Chapter 32A, Article 26 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the “Fostering Connections Act”. History: Laws 2019, ch. 149, § 1; 2020, ch. 52, § 3. ANNOTATIONS The 2020 amendment, effective May 20, 2020, changed “Sections 1 through 10 of this act” to “Chapter 32A, Article 26 NMSA 1978”. Temporary provisions. — Laws 2019, ch. […]
A. By October 1, 2019, the secretary shall appoint a “fostering connections advisory committee” to make recommendations to the department and to the legislature regarding the fostering connections program. The committee shall meet on a biannual basis to advise the department and the legislature regarding ongoing implementation of the fostering connections program. By September 1, […]
A young adult may appeal an adverse eligibility determination in accordance with rules promulgated by the department. The department shall provide the young adult, in the young adult’s primary language, with clear and developmentally appropriate verbal and written information concerning the administrative appeal process. History: Laws 2020, ch. 52, § 13. ANNOTATIONS Effective dates. — […]
A. The department shall notify every child in its custody about the fostering connections program beginning when the child attains sixteen years of age and at every transition planning meeting thereafter. B. Prior to attaining seventeen years and six months of age, every child in the custody of the department shall be provided detailed information […]
As used in the Fostering Connections Act: A. “active efforts” means a heightened standard that is greater than reasonable efforts that include affirmative, active, thorough and timely efforts; B. “eligible adult” means an individual who meets the eligibility criteria for participation in the fostering connections program; C. “foster care maintenance payment” means a payment for […]
A. The “fostering connections program” is established in the department. The department shall make the fostering connections program available, on a voluntary basis, to an eligible adult who: (1) has attained at least eighteen years of age and who is younger than: (a) as of July 1, 2020, nineteen years of age; (b) as of […]
A. The fostering connections program shall provide at least the following services and supports to eligible adults: (1) major medical and behavioral health care coverage; (2) housing, in one of the following settings that the eligible adult chooses: (a) a supervised independent living setting; (b) a transitional living program that the department licenses or approves; […]
A. An eligible adult may participate in the fostering connections program for any duration of time by entering into a voluntary services and support agreement immediately upon turning eighteen years of age or any time thereafter. B. There is no limit to the number of times an eligible adult may opt out of and reenter […]
A. An eligible adult may choose to terminate the voluntary services and support agreement and stop receiving services and support under the fostering connections program at any time. If an eligible adult chooses to terminate the voluntary services and support agreement, the department shall provide the eligible adult with a clear and developmentally appropriate written […]
A. An eligible adult participating in the fostering connections program shall remain under the jurisdiction of the children’s court while participating in the program. The eligible adult is the eligible adult’s own legal custodian. B. Within fifteen days after the voluntary services and support agreement is executed, the department shall file a petition initiating proceedings […]
A. The court shall conduct a review hearing at least once every six months. B. The primary purpose of the review hearing shall be to ensure that the fostering connections program is providing the eligible adult with the needed services and support to help the eligible adult move toward permanency and a successful transition to […]
A. At the last review hearing held prior to the eligible adult’s twenty-first birthday, or prior to an eligible adult’s discharge from the fostering connections program, the court shall review the eligible adult’s transition plan and shall determine whether the department has made active efforts to implement the requirements of Subsection B of this section. […]
