California to spend extra $42 million to help foster youth during pandemic
Originally published by on 13/04/2020
Summary
While California appears to have been successful in bending the curve of the spread of the coronavirus by staying home, social workers have been mostly unable to conduct in-person welfare checks of youths in foster care. In addition, the closure of California’s public schools have reduced the ability of mandated reporters (teachers, nurses) to report cases of possible neglect and abuse.Governor Gavin Newsome has announced that California will steer $42m towards helping foster youth. Most of the money will be directed to families with children at risk of becoming foster youth in the form of $200 monthly payments. In addition, money will go to: child care providers serving families who receive public assistance; people earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level; the expansion of family resource centers, California’s 211 helpline and to secure laptops and cell phones for foster youth; PPE for case workers so they can continue in-home visits.California is also extending their emancipation timelines so that they will not age out of the system during the shutdown.