The Current State of Foster Care in Virginia Sandra Karison, Director Court Improvement Program

Number of children in foster care in Virginia has increased since 2014. ( 4.27%)

Top 5 conditions of removal have remained consistent over past 5 years; order has shifted. 2014 Neglect (2614*) Child’s Behavior Problem (1062) Parent’s Drug Abuse (975) Physical Abuse (810) Inadequate Housing (757) 2018 Neglect (2625; ) Parent’s Drug Abuse (1448;  49%) Child’s Behavior Problem (1091;  3 %) Inadequate Housing (798;  5%) Physical Abuse (752;  7 %) 1 2 3 4 5 * Number of children for which condition was identified at last removal.

Top 5 conditions of removal have remained consistent over past 5 years; order has shifted. * Number of children for which condition was identified at last removal.

Joint Project between CIP and VDSS Operation Permanency Focuses on Children in foster care 24 months or longer Whose parents’ rights have been terminated Who have no permanent placement identified

Re-envisioning Child Welfare Families First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Included in the federal Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 signed into law on February 9, 2018 Biggest change to Title IV-E since established in 1980

Re-envisioning Child Welfare Expands IV-E funding for time-limited services to prevent placements in foster care Services - specified categories, evidence-based For parents or relatives caring for children who are “candidates for foster care” and youth in foster care who are pregnant or parenting

Re-envisioning Child Welfare Restricts IV-E funding for children in foster care placed in congregate/group settings to those in a “Qualified Residential Treatment Program” Reauthorizes Court Improvement Program; CIP role is training legal community on QRTP

Federal Title IV-E Review Purpose is to monitor compliance with certain eligibility requirements, including judicial determinations on “contrary to the welfare” and reasonable efforts” Scheduled for week of September 29, 2019 80 cases will be examined; selected from among those involving children for whom a title IV-E foster care maintenance payment was made between 10/1/18 through 3/31/19

2018 Virginia Legislative Update HB 326 - venue for abuse or neglect proceedings HB 278 - adjustment of GAL bills HB 1219 - child’s preference for restoration of parental rights SB 636, HB1333 - Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP)

KinGAP facilitates placements with relatives Return home and adoption are not appropriate permanency options Child in foster care in relative’s home for 6 months Child is attached to prospective kin guardian Kin guardian is committed to permanently care for child

KinGAP facilitates placements with relatives Child age 14 has been consulted Child’s siblings are also eligible for placement Kinship guardianship agreement required Specified payments allowed

Guardians Ad Litem: Living with conflicting Expectations