Introduced Version






HOUSE BILL No. 1406

_____


DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 31-9-2-72.5; IC 31-25-2-20.

Synopsis: Kinship caregivers. Requires the department of child services to: (1) collaborate with nonprofit community based agencies to develop a grant proposal for submission to potential funding sources for the purpose of establishing kinship care navigator pilot projects to assist kinship caregivers with understanding and navigating the system of services for children; and (2) report annually to the legislative council and the governor on the kinship care navigator pilot projects. Establishes requirements for: (1) the pilot projects; and (2) kinship care navigators. Provides that implementation of the kinship care navigator pilot projects is contingent upon receipt of nonstate or private funding for the projects.

Effective: July 1, 2007.





Dickinson, Summers




    January 16, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs.







Introduced

First Regular Session 115th General Assembly (2007)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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HOUSE BILL No. 1406



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning human services.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 31-9-2-72.5; (07)IN1406.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 31-9-2-72.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007]: Sec. 72.5. (a) "Kinship caregiver", for purposes of IC 31-25-2-20, means a person who is:
        (1) at least eighteen (18) years of age;
        (2) related to a child by blood, adoption, or marriage; and
        (3) the primary caregiver for and provider of financial support of a child described in subdivision (2) who is residing with the person.

     (b) The term includes a grandparent, a great grandparent, a sibling, an uncle, an aunt, a nephew, a niece, or a first cousin.
SOURCE: IC 31-9-2-72.6; (07)IN1406.1.2. -->     SECTION 2. IC 31-9-2-72.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007]: Sec. 72.6. "Kinship care navigator", for purposes of IC 31-25-2-20, means a person that assists kinship caregivers with understanding and navigating the system of services for children in out-of-home care under the pilot projects established under

IC 31-25-2-20.

SOURCE: IC 31-25-2-20; (07)IN1406.1.3. -->     SECTION 3. IC 31-25-2-20 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007]: Sec. 20. (a) The department shall collaborate with at least one (1) nonprofit community based agency to develop a grant proposal for submission to potential funding sources, including governmental entities and private foundations, to establish a minimum of two (2) kinship care navigator pilot projects to assist kinship care givers with understanding and navigating the system of services for children in out-of-home care.
    (b) The proposal under subsection (a) must seek to establish at least one (1) kinship care navigator pilot project in:
        (1) eastern Indiana; and
        (2) western Indiana;
with each project managed by a participating community based agency.

     (c) A person who acts as a kinship care navigator under the kinship care navigator pilot project shall be required to do the following:
        (1) Have an understanding of the various state agency systems serving kinship care givers.
        (2) Work in partnership with local community service providers.
        (3) Track trends, concerns, and other factors related to kinship care givers.
        (4) Assist in establishing stable, respectful relationships between kinship care givers and department staff.
    (d) The implementation of the kinship care navigator pilot projects are contingent upon receipt of nonstate or private funding for the pilot projects.
    (e) The department shall report annually to the:
        (1) legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6; and
        (2) governor;
on the implementation of the kinship care navigator pilot projects with recommendations on statewide implementation of the pilot projects beginning one (1) year after implementation of the pilot projects.
    (f) The report under subsection (e) must:
        (1) provide data that demonstrates whether the kinship care navigator pilot projects reduced barriers of access to services by kinship caregivers;
        (2) identify statutory and administrative barriers for kinship caregivers; and
        (3) provide recommendations to reduce or eliminate the barriers to services without adverse consequences to children placed with kinship caregivers.
    (g) This SECTION expires January 1, 2011.