1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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:
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

9. Resources
Statutory language available at:
ACF instructions available at:
CPPP policy page:
Child Welfare League of America:
Center for Law and Social Policy: