LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

California CASA is honored to be an active voice for our network, advocating at the state level. We listen to the needs of children in foster care, expressed by CASA volunteers and staff in the field, and we speak up in favor of legislation and policies that support a child’s journey through the system to a safe, permanent home.

California CASA speaks up for children in foster care by bringing their needs to lawmakers’ and policymakers’ attention. Local, state, and national legislators call upon California CASA, a respected authority on child welfare, to provide the CASA perspective. And, when necessary, we advocate for the initiation and enactment of legislation that ensures a fair and effective child welfare system.

CALIFORNIA CASA 2026 SUPPORTED BILLS

The below bills reflect our shared priorities across the network—strengthening outcomes for children and youth in foster care, supporting families, advancing equity, and improving system coordination.

• • Advancing equity for tribal communities and foster youth:

  • AB 1574 – Tribal Foster Care Prevention Program (Rogers)

  • AB 1824 – Indian Child Welfare / Tribal Protections (Ramos)

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• Strengthening family preservation and kinship placement: 

  • AB 1846 – Placement with Relatives (Stefani)

  • AB 2478 – Kinship Family Approval Process  (Schultz and Solache)

  • AB 2684 – Virtual Visitation for Non-minor Dependents(Nguyen)

  • Improving protections for vulnerable children and youth:

  • AB 1967 – Juvenile Court Safety Assessments (Zbur)

  • AB 1996– Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (Bonta)

  • AB 2451 – Protections for Youth Experiencing Human Trafficking (Elhawary)

  • SB 1345 – Foster Youth Rights (Personal Belongings & Dignity) (Wahab)

  • Expanding access to education, housing, and extended care:

  • AB 2766 – Higher Education Housing Support for Foster Youth (Ahrens)

  • AB 1602 – Foster Youth Disaster Aid Assistance (Rubio)

  • AB 1659 – Juvenile Court School Transition Planning (Ransom)

  • AB 2764 – Extended Foster Care Eligibility (Ahrens)

These proposals were identified through ongoing conversations with local programs, partners, and our legislative advocates.

Learn more about the Legislative Advocacy Team

Policy Forums
California CASA staff members provide their insights, experiences, and expertise to policy makers and elected officials. We have represented the network on many high-level statewide policy forums, including: California Child Welfare Council, California Child Welfare Council Permanency Committee, California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care, California Department of Health Care Services Quality Improvement Project: Improving the Use of Psychotropic Medication among Children and Youth in Foster Care, Step Up Coalition, and Foster Care Ombudsperson’s Office: Foster Youth Bill of Rights Updates.

National CASA Association: Public Policy
California CASA staff members also serve on National CASA Association’s Policy Committees, including:

• Public Policy Committee, aimed at improving federal level resources and systems related to CASA and child welfare.

• Legal Representation Committee, which seeks to develop an understanding of best practices related to the coordination of best interests and legal representation of children and youth in child dependency cases nationwide.