SECTIONS 17700 - California Statutes

WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE

SECTION 17700

17700. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Many children adjudicated dependents of the juvenile court
pursuant to Section 300 and following are, because of abuse, neglect,
or exploitation within the family environment, unable to remain
safely in their own homes.
(b) Children requiring placement in foster care are, pursuant to
Section 675 (5)(a) of Title 42 of the United States Code, entitled to
placement in the least restrictive, most family-like setting in
close proximity to the parent's home, consistent with the best
interest and special needs of the child.
(c) A significant number of children adjudicated dependents of the
juvenile court under Section 300 and following who require placement
outside their own homes have special health care needs. Children
with biological families who can provide health care services can be
discharged from hospital care into home care when it has been
determined that the child is medically stable.
(d) Children who have become dependents of the juvenile court may
become, because of a lack of appropriate placement options, long-term
boarders in hospitals or other health care institutions.
(e) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to support
expansion of existing prevention and treatment programs designed to
serve the parent and child with special health care needs which are
administered by the State Department of Health Services, the State
Department of Social Services, and the State Department of Alcohol
and Drug Programs.
Further, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a
program to place children with special health care needs in special
foster care homes, licensed pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, wherein
foster parents are trained by health care professionals, pursuant to
the discharge plan of the facility releasing the child being placed,
or who is currently, in foster care.
It is further the intent of the Legislature to encourage, to the
extent feasible, the placement of children with special health care
needs with relatives trained by health care professionals.