Applies to tribal foster care placement of Native American children for the purpose of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those childrenCommittee Notice:
Requires that all prospective foster care parents and adults living in the home undergo a background check prior to the placement of a Native American foster care child
Requires that background checks include checking for criminal activity as well as checking child abuse and neglect registries
Requires that adults who join the household after the foster care child has been placed there also undergo background checks
Requires that foster care homes undergo recertification periodically, to ensure they remain safe for foster care children
The bill sets out that the Department of Interior will work with Tribes, as well as Indian Country, to establish necessary procedures to ensure that these safety standards for foster care children are established
The bill requires the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which currently does not conduct these background checks in every case when placing Native American foster care children in foster care homes, follow these same requirements when acting on behalf of the Tribes
Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on the following bills (April 2, 2014) Related Stories:
Senate Indian Affairs Committee schedules hearing on five bills (3/24)
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