RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION TO AMEND

THE 2005-2006 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PROGRAM TO INCLUDE A LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FOR A FOSTER FAMILY REGIONAL RATE PILOT

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, the recruitment and retention of foster family homes is critical to keeping foster children in their communities; and

WHEREAS, while there are many factors in a family’s decision to become a foster family, low financial assistance can influence whether a family will elect to or continue to foster children; and

WHEREAS, the current rate structure for out-of-home placements fails to recognize the extraordinary cost of housing in some areas of California including San Mateo County where the 2006 Fair Market Rent is $1,536 per month for a two-bedroom apartment; and

WHEREAS, a five-year pilot that increases Foster Family Home rate by 35% for three counties with high fair market rents would allow evaluation of the change in out-of-County placements due to lack of available in-County foster homes before and after the rate increase, and the change in the number of available in-County foster family homes before and after the rate increase;

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the Board of Supervisors amends the 2005-2006 Legislative Session Program to include a legislative proposal for a Foster Family Regional Rate Pilot.

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