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For more information contact:
Tracy Schroth 510-835-8098 x3013
tschroth@youthlaw.org
NCYL Deputy Director Patrick Gardner has been appointed to the newly established California Child Welfare Council. The goal of the Council is to increase collaboration among agencies and courts that serve foster youth, and improve the coordination and delivery of foster youth services. The Council was formed as the result of AB 2216 — co-sponsored by NCYL — which was signed by the Governor last year.
Patrick specializes in mental health issues, and is co-counsel in Katie A. v. Bonta, a class action lawsuit challenging California's longstanding practice of confining abused and neglected children in costly hospitals and group homes instead of providing mental health services that would allow them to stay in their homes and communities. He also heads up NCYL's Juvenile Mental Health Court Project. The goal of the Project is to divert delinquent youth with mental health issues from juvenile jails to community based programs. Juvenile Mental Health Courts now operate in four counties in California.
California Child Welfare Council members have been selected based on professional involvement and/or experience in child welfare. Others serving on the 50-member committee are foster youth, caregivers, advocates, executive and judicial branch leaders, legislators, and county child welfare directors and administrators. AB 2216 designates the Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kim Belshé, and the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Ronald George, as Council co-chairs. Chief Justice George has designated Associate Justice Carlos Moreno, chair of the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care, to serve in his place as Council co-chair.
The Council will meet quarterly. Its first meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15, 2007.
Learn more:
Additional information on the Council
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