H.R. 6307, the Fostering Connections to Success Act, was passed last week by the House. This bill is a strong first step in reforming the foster care system, and it includes provisions supporting kinship caregivers.
The bill includes the three core elements of the bill, H.R. 2188, the Kinship Caregiver Support Act.
1) it allows states to use federal funds to support family caregivers raising relatives in the foster care system;
2) it provides funding to establish kinship navigator programs;
3) it requires notification of relatives when a child enters the foster care system.
Research clearly shows that kinship foster care families are safer, more stable placements that are more likely to keep children connected with their siblings and communities than non-relative placements.
In Illinois, studies projected a savings of approximately $48 million over ten years. Federal financial assistance currently is available to foster and adoptive families. Only a few states receive a waiver to provide such aid to kinship caregivers. Illinois enjoys such a waiver, which currently serves over 6,000 children statewide. H.R. 6307 removes this roadblock for all the states and offers an important path to permanency. The bill also facilitates kinship care foster placements by requiring states to notify grandparents and other adult relatives when a child is removed from custody of a parent.
Full Article and Source:
DAVIS: Advancing kinship care
See also:
Kinship Care vs. Foster Care
Foster Care Legislation
The bill includes the three core elements of the bill, H.R. 2188, the Kinship Caregiver Support Act.
1) it allows states to use federal funds to support family caregivers raising relatives in the foster care system;
2) it provides funding to establish kinship navigator programs;
3) it requires notification of relatives when a child enters the foster care system.
Research clearly shows that kinship foster care families are safer, more stable placements that are more likely to keep children connected with their siblings and communities than non-relative placements.
In Illinois, studies projected a savings of approximately $48 million over ten years. Federal financial assistance currently is available to foster and adoptive families. Only a few states receive a waiver to provide such aid to kinship caregivers. Illinois enjoys such a waiver, which currently serves over 6,000 children statewide. H.R. 6307 removes this roadblock for all the states and offers an important path to permanency. The bill also facilitates kinship care foster placements by requiring states to notify grandparents and other adult relatives when a child is removed from custody of a parent.
Full Article and Source:
DAVIS: Advancing kinship care
See also:
Kinship Care vs. Foster Care
Foster Care Legislation
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