A bill to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to provide for better protections for children raised in kinship families outside of the foster care system.

Bill 118 s 4399, also known as the Kinship Care Act, aims to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to enhance protections for children being raised by relatives outside of the traditional foster care system.

The bill recognizes the importance of kinship care, where children are placed with relatives or close family friends instead of in foster care. It seeks to provide these caregivers with the necessary resources and support to ensure the well-being and safety of the children in their care.

Specifically, the Kinship Care Act includes provisions to improve training and support services for kinship caregivers, as well as to increase funding for kinship care programs. It also aims to strengthen collaboration between child welfare agencies and kinship caregivers to better address the unique needs of children in kinship care arrangements. Overall, the bill is designed to promote the stability and permanency of kinship care placements, while also ensuring that children in these arrangements receive the same level of protection and support as those in traditional foster care.