PREPARATION OF FOSTER PARENTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN STATE CARE.

SEC. 112. PREPARATION OF FOSTER PARENTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN STATE CARE. (a) State Plan Requirement.—Section 471(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)) is amended— (1) by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (22); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (23) and inserting “; and”; and (3) by adding at the end the following: “(24) include a certification that, before a child in foster care under the responsibility of the State is placed with prospective foster parents, the prospective foster parents will be prepared adequately with the appropriate knowledge and skills to provide for the needs of the child, and that such preparation will be continued, as necessary, after the placement of the child.”. (b) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 1999.