Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 3.djvu/41

 PUBLIC LAW 105-89 —NOV. 19, 1997 111 STAT. 2129 the State agency has documented to the State court a compel- Hng reason for determining that it would not be in the best interests of the child to return home, be referred for termination of parental rights, or be placed for adoption, with a fit and willing relative, or with a legal guardian) placed in another planned permanent living arrangement". SEC. 303. KINSHIP CARE. 42 USC 5113 (a) REPORT. — (1) IN GENERAL. —The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— (A) not later than June 1, 1998, convene the advisory panel provided for in subsection (b)(1) and prepare and submit to the advisory panel an initial report on the extent to which children in foster care are placed in the care of a relative (in this section referred to as '^kinship care"); and (B) not later than Jvme 1, 1999, submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a final report on the matter described in subparagraph (A), which shall— (i) be based on the comments submitted by the advisory panel pursuant to subsection (b)(2) and other information and considerations; and (ii) include the policy recommendations of the Secretary with respect to the matter. (2) REQUIRED CONTENT^.— Each report required by paragraph (1) shall— (A) include, to the extent available for each State, information on— (i) the policy of the State regarding kinship care; (ii) the characteristics of the Mnship care providers (including age, income, ethnicity, and race, and the relationship of the kinship care providers to the children); (iii) the characteristics of the household of such providers (such as number of other persons in the household and family composition); (iv) how much access to the child is afforded to the parent from whom the child has been' removed; (v) the cost of, and source of funds for, kinship care (including any subsidies such as medicaid and cash assistance); (vi) the permanency plan for the child and the actions being taken by the State to achieve the plan; (vii) the services being provided to the parent from whom the child has been removed; and (viii) the services being provided to the kinship care provider; and (B) specifically note the circumstances or conditions under which children enter kinship care. (b) ADVISORY PANEL.— (1) ESTABLISHMENT. —The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee on Finance of the Senate, shall convene an advisory panel which shall include parents, foster

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