Next Generation Child Welfare Traineeship Program September Colloquium Presentation Friday, September 11, 2009 Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work 9:30 a.m. - Noon Theme: History,Policy, Principles and Practices Dr. Dakira S. Walker

History,Policy, Principles and Practices Objectives: – Increase knowledge of the history of the child welfare field – Introduce participants to federal legislation related to child welfare – Apply information to a child welfare issue in a specific time period

History,Policy, Principles and Practices In 2007 in the state of Georgia there were over 63,000 cases of alleged child abuse and neglect reported to the Department of Families and Children Services

History,Policy, Principles and Practices Policy is the driving force of all social services The twentieth century brought a great urban and industrial expansion along with the Great Depression. The challenges of the Great Depression in an industrializing nation brought an historic response from the Roosevelt administration. T The “New Deal” brought the federal government from virtually no presence in public social welfare to being the largest factor in U.S. social welfare. The Economic Security Act of 1935 established what we know now as Social Security, AFDC and unemployment insurance and grew to include cash assistance, health benefits, and services to the disabled, blind, families, children, and seniors. The New Deal also fought to increase employment through the Civilian Conservation Corps, Works Progress Administration, and other programs. The New Deal The Roosevelt administration’s response to the problems of the Great Depression included an ambitious range of social welfare programs that affirmed the federal government’s role in welfare. The most important social welfare action was the passage of the Economic Security Act of 1935.

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Significant changes emerged in the field of child welfare in the 1970’s. Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 (CAPTA) – Is the foundation of child welfare legislation – Established the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect; authorized funding for fiscal years 1974 through 1977 for demonstration projects on the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 : Public Law Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 : Public Law Authorized appropriations for adoption and foster care assistance to the States. Required States to provide adoption assistance to parents who adopt a child who is AFDC-eligible and is a child with special needs. For foster care assistance, States are required to make reasonable efforts to prevent placement or to reunify children with their families. Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1992 : Public Law : S. 838 Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1992 : Public Law : S. 838 Reauthorized through fiscal year 1995 and amended the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act; the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act; and the Adoption Opportunities program. Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 : Public Law : H.R Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 : Public Law : H.R Limits eligibility for Federal foster care and adoption assistance payments to children in families that would have been eligible for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Requires States to consider giving preference to adult relatives over non-relative caregivers when choosing a placement for a child. (Note: The AFDC program was replaced by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 : Public Law : H.R. 867 Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 : Public Law : H.R. 867 Seeks to promote the safety, permanency and well-being of children in foster care; accelerate the permanent placement of children in care; and increase the accountability of the child welfare system. Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 : Public Law : H.R Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 : Public Law : H.R Reauthorizes the adoption incentive program under Title IV-E; provides additional incentives for adoption of older children (age 9 and older) from foster care. Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 : Public Law : S. 342 Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 : Public Law : S. 342 Extends and amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act; the Adoption Opportunities Act; the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act; and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 : Public Law : H.R Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 : Public Law : H.R Acts to protect children from sexual exploitation and violent crime, to prevent child abuse and child pornography, and to promote Internet safety. Title I, Subtitle C requires national criminal background and child abuse registry checks before approval of any foster or adoptive placement. Title VI, Subtitle C requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a national registry of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect. Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Key Federal Policies Related to Child Welfare Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008: 110 P.L. 351; 122 Stat. 3949; 2008 Enacted H.R. 6893; 110 Enacted H.R Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008: 110 P.L. 351; 122 Stat. 3949; 2008 Enacted H.R. 6893; 110 Enacted H.R Amends title IV-E to permit States to claim Federal reimbursement for part of the cost of providing kinship guardianship assistance to relatives who become legal guardians of children who have been in foster care. The Act also amends title IV-B to authorize Family Connection Grants for support of kinship navigator programs and other services to help children in, or at risk of entering, foster care to reconnect with family members. It provides or revises requirements for – case-by-case waiver of licensing standards for relatives; – adoptive or guardianship placement for children older than age 18; – a transition plan for children aging out of foster care; – short-term training for child welfare agencies, relative guardians, and court personnel; – educational stability of the child while in foster care; – ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for any child in a foster care placement; – placement of siblings in the same foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoptive placement; – foster care and tribal programs operated by Indian tribal organizations; – adoption of children with special needs Adapted from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Closing Activity Reflecting on the “History of Child Welfare Video,” Please discuss a specific child welfare issue and how it would have or is being approached in a given era of history. Please include the era of time that the problem is occurring, who would be involved and how each level would address the problem (micro, mezzo and macro). Also include what policy would have been used to address the concern?

Next Session Next Generation Child Welfare Traineeship Program October Colloquium Agenda Friday, October 9, 2009 Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work 9:30 a.m. – Noon CFSR and Systems of Care