FEDERAL POLICY
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 – Overview
Before congress could pass the Act, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) had to conduct a budget “score” or calculation of what the bill would cost and how much the budget saving portions of the bill would generate to make the bill cost neutral. It’s complicated, but the bottomline is that when the bill is fully phased in over 10 years, the new law is expected to provide nearly half billion more a year in federal adoption assistance funding. One of the ways these costs are to be offset is in part by states’ use of the kinship guardianship option which would result in savings because children would be shifted out of more-costly foster care placements.
Four main provisions – California already has most of these, it’s a matter of new funding source: lift burden from state and county to federal
Connecting and supporting relative caregivers (similar to CA KinGap)
Improving outcomes for children in foster care (includes much of what CA already does including AB490 provisions, and allowing youth to stay in care until 21)
Tribal Foster Care
Improvement of Adoption Incentives
Each provision must be opted in and each have different timelines, mainly so that the bill balances itself out with regards to cost.
The Child Welfare League of America has a great website with lots of information, visit:
http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/adoptionhr6893.htm
Stimulus Bill and Child Welfare
$787 billion dollar stimulus package passed both houses on Feb 13, and signed into law by President Obama yesterday – Feb 17. The package includes more than $135 billion for states, to help pay for education, Medicaid and infrastructure projects. Read a New York Times article with information on each part of the stimulus package
Economists estimate that California could receive at least $10 billion in relief for schools and social services, however, human services and higher education programs will continue to be deeply cut and affected by the budget. The most significant part of the proposal for child welfare, is a two-year boost to Title IV-E (foster care, adoption assistance, and kinship care). The measure temporarily increases both the Medicaid and Title IV-E reimbursements to states. Under the bill, the rate would increase 4.9% for each state, retroactive to Oct 1, 2008 and lasting until Dec 31, 2010. Title IV-E funding, federal money for eligible foster care and subsidized adoption costs, is claimed by states using the federal Medicaid matching rate, which will increase as discussed in the health section. This will bring in up to an additional $21.2 million in FY 2009 and $40.7 million in FY 2010. The additional federal money makes it easier for the State to implement Family-Team Decision Making and efforts to reduce overuse of group homes.
Stimulus Bill Will Shift Power to States and Localities over Spending Details
[from Connect for Kids Update, 2/11/09]
There is a big side effect in Congress’ decision to strip all earmarks from the economic recovery bill. It means that Congress has less say about which organizations and agencies benefit; this shifts power to state and local agencies who will be in charge of the spending details. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100304449
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