Fostering Connections To Success Act And What It Means For Texas Partners In CPS Reform Meeting, Jan. 14, 2009 Liz Kromrei, Department of Family and Protective Services Jane Burstain, Center for Public Policy Priorities

Fostering Connections To Success Act Signed into law on October 7, 2008 and significantly overhauls federal child welfare structure Fundamental shift in child welfare model Foster care is not a viable long-term solution Adoption is not an option for everyone Increased focus on relatives Older children in foster care need help Private providers an important resource

More Focus On Relatives Notification within 30 days of removal All grandparents and “other adult relatives” Payment program At state’s option provides matching federal funds for payments to relatives who become PMC Requirements: Written agreement For 6 months prior to PMC relative is licensed or meets foster care requirements Foster care payments do not have to be made Non-safety requirements can be waived Child still eligible for Medicaid

Adoption Incentives and Subsidies Adoption Incentives – payments to state when increase number of adoptions New baseline is 2007 Adoption subsidy – payments to adoptive parent Child no longer has to meet AFDC eligibility requirements Phased in over time

Focus On Older Youth At state’s option: Matching funds extended until child turns 22 for: Foster care and kinship payments Adoption subsidies for children 16 years or older at time of adoption Children who are 16 years or older when adopted or PMC with relative still eligible for PAL Matching funds for youth 18 or older living independently in supervised settings Need federal regulations on what qualifies Transition plan must be developed 90 days before emancipation

Expanded Use Of Matching Federal Funds For Short-Term Training Covers programs for: Relatives obtaining PMC Child placing agencies Court staff, attorneys and CASAs Funds flow through DFPS

Family Connection Grants Non-profits can apply directly Programs Help relative caregivers Use technology to find family Family Group Decision Making Residential Family Treatment programs Grants last up to 3 years Feds pay 75% of 1st and 2nd year costs and 50% of 3rd year costs Grantee can fund up to 50% of its portion through in-kind

Other Issues Tribes now have access to federal funds Health Education STAR Health program seems to comply with new requirements CPPP report on STAR Health available at: http://cppp.org/files/4/351%20Medicaid%20Managed%20Care%20for%20Foster%20Care.pdf Education Case plan must address attempts to keep child in original school or if not in child’s best interests efforts to immediately enroll in a new school Costs of transportation to original school can be included as part of foster care payment

Resources Statutory language available at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-6893 ACF instructions available at: http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/adoptionhr6893acfinstructions.pdf CPPP policy page: http://cppp.org/files/4/newfostercare.pdf Child Welfare League of America: http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/adoptionhr6893resources.htm Center for Law and Social Policy: http://www.clasp.org/publications/fctsaiaact2008resources.htm