"California’s legislature recently passed AB 12, a bill that if signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would – among other things – allow the state to draw down federal funding and provide financial assistance to relative caregivers. For our Indian children this could mean living with qualifying family members instead of being placed into foster care with strangers. For the State of California it would mean a savings of $50 million per year.

Providing funding to relative caregivers is not a new concept in California. Currently, California’s state-funded Kin-Gap program provides a subsidy for relative guardians, but the child is required to live with the family for an entire year before the caregivers receive any financial assistance. AB 12 would change this by reducing that waiting period in the caregiver’s home from one year to six months.

This six-month difference represents a critical resource for most Indian caregivers and families. It means the difference between a child remaining with family instead of a foster care placement simply because the relative cannot afford the high cost of raising the child.

AB 12 also changes the way that funding is distributed to guardians. Under California’s current Kin-GAP program, families receive a standard amount of money each month without the possibility of an increase regardless of circumstances."

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Jessica LePak: California’s AB 12: Good for Indian foster children (Indian Country Today 9/28)