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SB 1051

Foster care: childcare.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Caroline Menjivar and 1 co-sponsor

SB 1051 expands and coordinates short-term childcare support for foster children by empowering navigators, strengthening interagency MOUs, and using Title IV-E funds where possible

Ordered to third reading.
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Bill Summary · SB 1051

Summary of SB 1051 (2025-2026) – Foster care: childcare

Purpose and intent

SB 1051, introduced by Senator Menjivar with Assembly coauthor Schiavo, aims to enhance the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children by expanding the role of childcare navigators and tightening how counties refer and determine eligibility for short-term childcare support. The bill seeks to improve access to childcare for foster children, children in foster care, and children connected to the child welfare system, while encouraging interagency collaboration and alignment with existing state childcare programs.

Key provisions and changes

  • Expansion of navigator referral authority (Section 10219):

    • Childcare navigators in resource and referral programs may refer foster children to the county welfare department for eligibility and approval under the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children.
    • Participating county welfare departments must determine eligibility for the referred child.

  • Enhanced navigator duties and agreements (Section 10219):

    • The bill requires navigators to work with the child, family, social worker, and child and family team to assess appropriate childcare opportunities and help secure ongoing subsidized childcare.
    • Navigators must enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or similar agreement with the county welfare agency to facilitate interagency communication and leverage federal funding (Title IV-E) where possible. If an MOU is not feasible, the navigator program must explain why annually.
    • Navigator services must be available to: current foster children, children who have returned to their home of origin, and children of parents involved with the child welfare system, including children who meet Emergency Child Care Bridge Program eligibility.

  • Trauma-informed training and coordination (Section 10219):

    • Resource and referral programs must provide trauma-informed training and coaching to childcare providers working with foster children and children of parenting youth.
    • MOUs with county welfare agencies are encouraged to maximize use of federal funds for training.

  • Program operation and referrals (Section 10219):

    • Emphasis on maximizing parental choice in selecting childcare.
    • Immediate removal and notification procedures for licensed facilities with revocation, suspension, or probation orders from referral lists (two business days).

  • Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children (Section 11461.6):

    • Counties may pay families or directly pay providers for short-term childcare following placement or when a parent is in foster care, and may contract with local agencies to distribute vouchers.
    • If using market-rate surveys, reimbursements align with regional market rates; contracting with local agencies must not displace existing contracts.
    • Eligibility criteria allow payments/vouchers for: approved resource families or families with children placed for emergency/compelling reasons; and for parents under juvenile court jurisdiction.
    • Payments/vouchers are available for up to six months, with potential extension to twelve months at county discretion if long-term subsidized childcare has not yet been secured or for other specified compelling reasons (effective September 1, 2022, per the bill’s amendments). Federal Title IV-E funding should be pursued to maximize state and local support.
    • The program is not an entitlement and is intended to supplement county efforts to support resource families and reunification/permanency goals.

Who would be affected

  • Children in foster care and those with connections to the child welfare system who require short-term childcare following placement or during parental/family transitions.
  • Foster families, resource families, and parents involved with the juvenile court who may access temporary childcare payments or vouchers.
  • Childcare navigators and childcare resource and referral programs who would engage more directly with county welfare departments and provide trauma-informed training.
  • County welfare departments responsible for determining eligibility and administering Bridge Program payments/vouchers, including potential MOUs to leverage Title IV-E funding.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill was introduced in February 2026 and progressed through committee hearings with a timeline indicating action in April 2026 (Readings and committee referrals shown in the action history).
  • If enacted, counties would implement eligibility determinations and payment/voucher administration under the Bridge Program, with ongoing monitoring for program integrity and federal funding alignment.
  • The legislation emphasizes interagency coordination, data sharing, and ensuring timely updates to referral lists when facilities face licensure actions.

Overall, SB 1051 seeks to streamline access to temporary childcare supports for foster-related families, strengthen interagency collaboration, and align state practice with federal funding opportunities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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