Extending additional financial support to relative caregivers could improve kids’ futures
A new bill is under consideration in the California legislature that would make it easier for grandparents and other extended family members to receive the extra financial support they often need to care for young relatives who would otherwise be wards of the state.
The bill, known as AB 1882, would specify “certain additional amounts to be paid under the CalWORKS program to a child who is placed in the home of a relative caregiver and is the subject of a voluntary placement agreement or subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.” These additional amounts could include funds for school travel that would allow the child to remain in the school where they were enrolled at the time of placement, as well as funds for clothing and any special care needs.
As strong advocates for the rights of parents and children, we at Kendall & Gkikas are always excited about new legal developments that promise to improve children’s quality of life. We handle many child custody cases in our practice, and we have seen firsthand the many ways in which the law can be used to ensure children are in the custody of the guardian best equipped to care for them.
The court’s primary concern in any child custody case is always the best interests of the child. In the case of a child who has no living or fit parents and is faced with the choice between entering the foster system and staying with a relative, the option of remaining with a relative is almost always in their best interests. Numerous studies have shown that kids raised by family members rather than placed in foster care have higher graduation rates and are less likely to abuse drugs, get arrested, or become homeless.
The only catch is that the relative must have adequate resources with which to care for and support the child in order for these successful outcomes to occur. The proposed bill will make it easier for low-income relatives to care for kids by requiring county welfare departments to initiate applications for CalWORKS and federal benefits on their behalf and fully explain the eligibility requirements and benefit amounts to them.
As an additional benefit, placing more kids with relatives will also save the state money. It can cost over $100,000 per year to place a child in a group home, whereas payments to assist relatives in caring for children could be as low as $8,000 per year and still have a significant impact.
