The
Governor announced an investment of $42 million, primarily
from the emergency coronavirus spending legislation adopted by
the Legislature, to support foster care families and at-risk
children and youth. The largest portion of this funding is $27.8
million to support families who are struggling to stay together.
This funding will be used to provide a $200 per month supplement
to families in the Emergency Response and Family Maintenance
programs, in order to help these families purchase food and other
necessities. Other significant investments include:
$6.9 million for increased county social worker workload
including overtime costs and outreach efforts to foster families
with older caregivers or other COVID-19 risks;
$3 million for Family Resource Centers to provide direct
supports and services to family caregivers, such as parenting
resources, assistance with isolation needs, and links to other
state and federal supports;
$1.8 million to extend foster care payments and eligibility
to support older foster youth during the COVID-19 crisis who
would otherwise age out of the foster care system; and
$1.7 million for higher monthly reimbursement rates for
resource families impacted by COVID-19.
