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Committee hears HB1779 to strengthen cultural supports for children in foster care; DCYF says many elements already exist
Summary
HB1779 would require cultural competency training, create cultural advocates and a 'cultural foster care' stream. DCYF said foster parent training already includes cultural modules but warned the bill’s current 'shall' language and fiscal plan (14 hires) may be difficult to implement without modification.
Representative Georgees introduced HB1779, saying the bill would "honor and preserve the cultural background of children placed in foster care" by requiring training for foster parents, facilitating family/community connections, and assigning a cultural advocate to children placed in care.
DCYF officials answered committee questions and said the agency already requires pre‑licensing training that includes a module on supporting children’s social and cultural identities. General counsel Susan Larby read the rule language to the committee: "Foster parents shall respect and encourage the linguistic, ethnic, religious, spiritual, and cultural background of the child in care and of the child's family. Foster parents shall cooperatively support the child in care in maintaining his or her linguistic, ethnic, religious, spiritual, and cultural connections." DCYF said that requirement is in current licensing rules and that kinship‑care licensing likewise addresses cultural connections.
The committee focused on the bill’s cost and implementation: the fiscal note attached to HB1779 assumed hiring a cohort of cultural advocates and a supervisor; DCYF said a volunteer‑coordinator model might reduce costs but would require programing and staff time to recruit and train volunteers and to ensure MEPA (Multiethnic Placement Act) compliance. Several witnesses, including parents with lived experience, urged culturally appropriate placements and training; one parent said she struggled to maintain her child's religious and linguistic upbringing while the child was in foster care.
Committee members asked for clarified definitions (for example, whether the term "specialized" in "cultural foster care" should be removed or adjusted) and for options that rely on community partners and volunteers rather than a large new state hiring commitment. The sponsor agreed to consider amendments.
