Legislative

POLICY ALERT:  Senate Passes H.R. 6893!

We have wonderful news this evening--the Senate has just passed the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (HR 6893). Passed by the House on September 17, the bill now awaits signature by President Bush. Once signed, the legislation will (among other things):

• Reauthorize and update the adoption incentives program

• Gradually de-link Title IV-E adoption assistance from income requirements so that all children with special needs eventually have access to this federal support

• Provide for Title IV-E funding of kinship guardianship placements

• Extend direct Title IV-E funding to tribal governments

• Allow states to receive federal reimbursement for support provided to foster youth up to age 21

• Create a grant program to support kinship caregivers

• Require reasonable efforts to keep siblings together

• Require agencies to inform prospective adopters about the tax credit

Thank you so much to all of you who worked so hard to make this incredible reform happen! Children and families across the country will truly benefit.

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD BY forwarding this information to your friends, family, colleagues, and networks.

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Boo at maryboo@nacac.

A more detailed summary of it can be found here: http://www.nacac.org/policy/HR6893_summary.pdf

House to Pass Major Child Welfare Bill

An important and urgent legislative update from the Child Welfare League of America
On September 16, 2008, the House is expected to pass an historic child welfare reform bill. For the first time, federal foster care assistance will be available to kinship and relative caregivers.  Also for the first time, eligibility for federal adoption assistance no longer be tied to the non-existent Aid to
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program.

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act expected to pass by a wide margin with broad bi-partisan support.  The Senate expected to take up the bill in the next few days.

This will be an historic moment for foster children and families. We congratulate the House in their effort, and we urge the Senate to pass this bill as soon as possible. The kinship benefits and breaking the link to the old AFDC program are major steps forward and necessary as we strive to improve the child welfare system.

The legislation was introduced by Representatives Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Jerry Weller (R-IL) in the House. Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking member Charles Grassley (R-IA), and John Rockefeller (D-WV) are leading the effort in the Senate.

Kinship care is recognized as an effective way to increase stability and permanency for children who cannot stay with their parents. Living with relatives such as grandparents or aunts and uncles provides safety and a loving environment.

Language in the bill de-links eligibility for adoption assistance to the old AFDC program. This will make all special needs adoptions eligible for federal assistance and will encourage many more adoptions.

Other significant reforms in the legislation include opening federal training resources to private non-profit child welfare agencies, providing Native American child welfare organizations with direct
access to federal foster care and adoption assistance, and providing states the option of extending foster care eligibility for you up to age 21 from 18. Also included in the legislation are improvements
regarding education and health services for children in the foster and child welfare system.

The legislation will mark a significant turn around in support for our most vulnerable children, youth, and families. We call on the Senate to act quickly and for the President to sign this bill as soon as it
arrives at his desk.

Since most of our kids are subjected to alcohol exposure prenatally, this study will help put a spotlight on the difficulties we have in getting DCFS to recognize the problems this can cause our children.  Many DCFS staff and supervisors only look at the outer appearances of our kids and say “they are cute there is nothing wrong with them” and refuse to acknowledge the problems that are ahead in their future.  As a wonderful speaker from one of our past statewide conferences once said, “The cute ones have a hard time getting diagnoses and services because people ‘look’ at them and don’t see anything wrong because they are so cute.  They are the ones that suffer in the long run because their physical appearance leads those in charge of the care of our kids to believe they are normal.  Whereas those that have obvious physical deformities (even though their brains are the same as the ‘normal’ looking kids) can get the support and services easier to lead to a better long term outcome.” 

Please let Rep. Froehlich know he has your support for this study as well as your own local representative.

Bill Status of HJR0041  95th General Assembly
Short Description:  FETAL ALCHL SPECTRUM DISORDERS

House Sponsors
Rep. Paul D. Froehlich

Springfield Office:
(217) 782-3725
(217) 557-0530 FAX

District Office:
(847) 985-9210
(847) 891-8772 FAX

Synopsis As Introduced
Urges urge the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Departments of Children and Family Services, Healthcare and Family Services, Corrections, Financial Institutions and Professional Regulation, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities to complete an assessment of existing State and federal assistance programs involving Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Bill Status of HB1118  95th General Assembly
Short Description:  DCFS-CITIZENS' REVIEW BOARD
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall develop and implement a program of family preservation services designed to support intact, foster, and adoptive families who are experiencing extreme hardship due to the difficulty of caring for a child with a pervasive developmental disorder. Provides that the Department shall develop and implement a public information campaign to alert public healthcare providers, social service providers, and the general public about these family preservation services. Effective immediately.

Bill Status of HB0394  95th General Assembly
Short Description:  JUV CT-PARENTAGE
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that in unfitness proceedings alleging that a minor is abused, neglected, or dependent, if documents, assessments, and evaluations are directly used to prove an unfitness ground as alleged in the petition or at the best interest portion, relating to parent child bonding, and a party objects to the introduction of the documents into evidence, the author of those documents shall testify, if available, as to the recommendations and findings. Provides that if the author is unavailable, the documents are admissible without such testimony. Provides that the court shall determine the proper weight accorded to the documents. Provides that a supplemental petition to reinstate parentage may be filed regarding any minor who is presently a ward of the court under the Abused, Neglected, or Dependent Minors Article of the Act. Establishes procedures for filing such supplemental petition. Effective August 1, 2007.

Bill Status of HB0191  (95th General Assembly)
Short Description:  DCFS- AUTISM
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall develop and implement a program of family preservation services designed to support intact, foster, and adoptive families who are experiencing extreme hardship due to the difficulty of caring for a child with a pervasive developmental disorder. Provides that the Department shall develop and implement a public information campaign to alert public healthcare providers, social service providers, and the general public about these family preservation services. Effective immediately. 

HB0049 PENSION CODE-ADOPTED CHILDREN (95th General Assembly)
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that, beginning on the effective date, legally adopted children shall be entitled to the same benefits as other children, and no child's or survivor's benefit shall be disallowed because the child is an adopted child.
More Explanation

HB4543 INCREASE IN BOARD RATE AND SERVICES (Illinois 94th General Assembly)
Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the FY07 Cost of Doing Business Adjustment Act. Provides that the rates in effect for fiscal year 2007 paid by the Department of Children and Family Services to foster parents for the care of abused and neglected children shall include an increase of 3%. Provides that a 3% increase shall be included in all purchase of care contracts and grant agreements paid under specified line items in the fiscal year 2007 State budget for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Family Services. Effective July 1, 2007.

HJR29 FOSTER CARE TASK FORCE (Illinois 94th General Assembly)
Synopsis As Introduced
Creates a Task Force to review the operations of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Foster Care Division and related laws and rules impacting the Illinois foster care system.