Relates to the definition of the term prospective relative guardian

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jabari Brisport says this is needed

Each year, approximately five hundred youth age out of the New York foster care system without a permanent connection to a family. The current legal framework limits kinship guardianship to adults who had an established relationship with the child before foster care placement, disregarding the strong emotional bonds that may form between a child and their foster parent after placement. Existing law already recognizes the importance of these relationships. Social Services Law 383 grants foster parents who have cared for a child continuously for twelve months the right to intervene in custody proceedings after the termination of parental rights. Similarly, in Matter of Tabitha T.S.M., Matter of Kadi W. v ACS-Kings, and Matter of Destiny 0., the courts upheld that a child's best interest may be served by remaining with a long-term foster parent rather than being returned to a non-parent relative. This bill builds on the existing legal framework to provide foster chil- dren with more permanency options by allowing foster parents and others, under appropriate circumstances, to qualify as kinship guardians without requiring a pre-existing relationship. This change would: *Increase permanency outcomes for children in foster care, particularly older youth and children with special needs, who may otherwise remain in foster care until they age out of the system. *Allow sibling groups to be placed together under KinGAP arrangements, rather than facing separation due to rigid pre-placement relationship requirements. *Provide birth parents with an additional permanency option before termination of parental rights, allowing for guardianshiptelacements that maintain connections between children and their biological family- lies. Data from the National Foster Youth Institute highlights the urgency of this reform. More than 23,000 children age out of the U.S. foster care system each year. Studies show that youth who age out without a perma- nent family face significantly increased risks of homelessness, incar- ceration, and substance abuse. In New York, the average foster care stay is 22.7 months, with 30% of children remaining in care for more than two years. Expanding kinship. Definitions would help reduce unnecessary delays in securing stable, long-term placements. This legislation aligns with the state's ongoing efforts to reduce reli- ance on Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA) and promote stable, permanent placements for children in care.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.