Home IssuesChild Welfare

Child Welfare

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act

On October 7, 2008, President George Bush signed into law the most significant improvement to child welfare services in over a decade. As a result of the new law (P.L. 110-351), which was approved unanimously by both the House and the Senate, federal Title IV-E supports are now available for states to promote kinship and guardianship care, and states will also have the option to extend supports for foster youth up to age 21.

The law also calls for greater coordination and oversight of health care and educational services provided for foster children, and includes the gradual elimination of the financial criteria for the Title IV-E Adoption Assistance program. The law also strengthens the Adoption Incentives program allowing states to enhance their capacity to find permanent homes for children waiting to be adopted. Tribal nations–for the first time–will also benefit by having direct access to foster care supports.

Following the signing, former Voices President and CEO, Bill Bently, said in a press statement that “with more than 500,000 children in foster care nationwide, and 25,000 foster youth who “age-out” to live on their own, these young people cannot wait another day for the promise of secure, nuturing homes this measure offers. By signing this critically important legislation, the President has made it possible for hundreds of thousands of children in foster care to find permanent families.”

Available Resources for the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act:

Detailed summary provided by Children’s Defense Fund and the Center for Law and Social Policy

Voices for America’s Children annotated summary of the legislation

New Help for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives: Questions and Answers About the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

This document is intended to help ensure full and prompt implementation of the improvements in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. Download the entire document here or access the report by section here.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Provisions Designed to Impact Youth and Young Adults

Developed jointly by eight national organizations, this document is intended to help states with implementing provisions related to youth and young adults as part of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act when they become effective October 1, 2010.

The entire document is available here.

Guiding principles for implementation is available here.

Congressional Leaders Join Voices Network In Applauding the Law:

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA): “This comprehensive bi-partisan reform measure will address critical needs in the child welfare system and promote permanency and well-being outcomes for children and families across Pennsylvania and the nation,” said Joan L. Benso, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. “This legislation recognizes that every child deserves a forever family.”

Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT): Karen Crompton, Executive Director of Voices for Utah Children lauded Hatch for his work on and support of the legislation, which the Senate passed late Monday. “I applaud the support of Senator Hatch to advance this vital legislation that represent the most significant improvement in services to help our nation’s most-vulnerable children,” Crompton said. “Through this effort, Congress has shown the ability to cross party lines to improve the lives of foster children who are currently awaiting a permanent home.”

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE): “We appreciate the commitment made by Senator Neslon and his colleagues in paving the road to permanency for children and families,” said Kathy Moore, Executive Director of Voices for Children in Nebraska. “This bill is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise tumultuous year and we hope it is the first of several policy changes to come in 2009 which will improve the conditions for Nebraska’s vulnerable children.”

—

The Fostering Connections Resource Center is dedicated to providing timely and reliable tools and information on all aspects of the Fostering Connections Act to ensure that state, tribal and local decision makers are well-informed about the law and that they receive maximum support as they plan for and carry out its implementation.

Child Welfare

Learn More

get involved

Stay informed

voices in action

Previous Next

Samuel Flint, a board member of Voices for Illinois Children, asks a question about health care reform during the group’s Illinois Kids Count Symposium. (Photo: Bob Chwedyk)

stay connected

The Campaign for Dental Health offers fact sheets and other helpful resources on fluoridation and oral health.

Child Welfare Articles

Texas Students Visit Voices

Posted by Terrylynn Tyrell on Feb. 7

Students from the International School of the Americas, a magnet school of the Northeast Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, visited Voices this week. Terrylynn Tyrell, Voices’ Senior Director of Government Affairs and Policy gave pointers on how the student could advocate for making a difference in the lives of children. Topics discussed included strategic advocacy, messaging, meeting with members of Congress, audience development and planning advocacy, and career paths for advocates. This information will be used as the students develop a project to address child mortality in Bexar County and as their advocate for children in the future.

Categories: Blog, Child Welfare, Child Welfare, Children’s Health, Children’s Health, Community Mobilization, News | Tags: | State:

Falling Short on Dental Care for Children

Posted by Terrylynn Tyrell on Jan. 8 In the past 50 years, dental care has improved significantly transforming oral health in America. Rarely do we see individuals with rows of missing teeth that once were commonplace. However, millions of children are still afflicted with oral health problems, especially those who live in low-income communities. Research shows that providing sealants through school-based programs is a cost-effective way to reach low-income children, who are at greater risk of decay. In addition to protecting healthy teeth, sealants can also prevent cavities from forming when applied during the early stages of decay. The Pew Center on the States released a new report today, Falling Short: Most States Lag on Dental Sealants, which confirmed that not enough is being done to prevent tooth decay and reduce related health costs. Twenty states and the District of Columbia received a grade of D or F for lack of access to sealants that prevent decay in low-income children. Report findings also revealed that two-thirds of states do not have any sealant programs in a majority of high-need schools, and 19 states and DC have a regulation that restricts hygienists’ ability to provide sealants to children. State budgets are starting to feel the effects of preventable dental care with one-third of spending on dental care going to children. Annual Medicaid spending for dental care is expected to increase from $8 billion to more than $21 billion between 2010 and 2020. The Pew report on dental care draws attention to a key Voices issue. With proper dental health, children do better is school and are more likely to succeed.

Categories: Blog, Child Poverty, Child Poverty, Child Welfare, Children & Medicaid, Children’s Health, Children’s Health, Children’s Health | Tags: Child Poverty health insurance poverty | State:

Protecting our Children

Posted by Jacquelyn Lendsey on Dec. 18 Last Friday, we learned of the killing of more than two dozen people at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Most devastating about this horrific tragedy was that many of the victims were very young children who had their whole lives ahead of them. My heartfelt condolences are extended to the families of each of the victims, the community of Newtown and our nation as we try to heal. Most of all, my heart goes out to the grieving families whose lives are forever changed. We at Voices for America’s Children will continue to keep the families in our prayers. As advocates for children, Voices believes that every child deserves to have everything needed to succeed – a safe environment, readiness and success to ensure a quality education, access to health care and economic support. Our hearts are broken, but our spirits are renewed for the job ahead to ensure the best for all children. The events of Newtown are a first, as the nation grapples with protecting children from this point forward. We need to work harder to ensure a safe productive environment. President Obama, our elected officials and the rest of the country simply must commit to do everything possible to end the senseless violence that continues to plague this nation. In the words of President Barack Obama, “This is our first task – caring for our children.”

Categories: Blog, Child Welfare, Child Welfare, Children’s Health, Children’s Health, Children’s Health, News | Tags: Child Welfare children's health | State:

States overstate student performance

Posted by Terrylynn Tyrell on May. 29 Our weekly newsletter, Speaking Out!, has a great recap of our new education report and the Annie E. Casey Foundation's report on kinship care: We know from federal test score data that most fourth graders are not proficient in reading and math. Yet according to state assessments most of them are. For example, federal test scores show that only 32 percent of Alabama fourth graders read proficiently, yet the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test says that 87 percent are proficient. Why do federal and state standards disagree so much on how well the same group of kids can read? Read more in Speaking Out! and sign up to get Speaking Out! in your email here.

Categories: Blog, Child Welfare, Early Care & Education | Tags: Annie E. Casey Foundation education K-12 kinship care NAEP National Assessment of Educational Progress report Speaking Out! test scores | State:

Help Hungry Children This Holiday

Posted by Jacquelyn Lendsey on Nov. 24 As many of us sit down to hearty Thanksgiving meals this holiday, and look across the table and give thanks for many things including our well-fed children, please remember that one in four children in America is struggling with hunger. Congress is now considering legislation that can help millions of families put food on the table. Tell Congress to pass the child nutrition bill next week.

Categories: Blog, Child Poverty, Child Welfare, Child Welfare, Children’s Health | Tags: child nutrition reauthorization hunger nutrition | State:

Child Welfare

Issues

Child Welfare

Research