Porter Supports Legislation to Enhance Child Welfare Reforms in Clark County
Washington, DC- Congressman Jon Porter today announced his support for legislation that will help bring needed reforms to the child welfare system in Clark County. Since revelations were brought to light in December 2006, Porter has taken the lead to ensure that Southern Nevada’s children are safe while under the protection of state and local governments.
In May 2007, Porter brought Clark County Department of Family Services (CCDFS) independent auditor Ed Cotton to Washington to testify to the Ways and Means Committee regarding his findings that initially brought to light instances of neglect, abuse and death within the CCDFS. Porter subsequently hosted a child welfare roundtable on July 9th, 2007 to address the agency’s shortfalls and then an additional meeting on November 26th, 2007 to hear what reforms had been implemented.
The “Fostering Connections to Success Act of 2008” was introduced today by Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Ranking Member Jerry Weller (R-IL). Porter is a member of the subcommittee which is focused on issues of child welfare, poverty, public housing and unemployment.
“Keeping our children safe and secure while in the unfortunate situation of not having a parent in their lives should be a top priority for Nevada and the Nation,” Porter said. “Southern Nevada has experienced its fair share of challenges and fortunately has leadership that has been aggressive in implementing needed reforms that will keep Nevada’s kids safe and secure while increasing the likelihood that they will enjoy a prosperous future.”
Several key provisions will directly enhance the efforts Clark County is making to reform their foster care system.
Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payments
Creates a new State option under the current Federal Foster Care and Adoption Assistance program for payments to relative guardians. Like adoptive parents, relative guardians (most commonly grandparents, but also including aunts, uncles, adult siblings, or cousins) would have legal responsibility of a child placed in their care via the foster care system. But after the child had been in foster care for a year, including at least 6 months with the adult relative, the family could transition to “kinship guardian” status, in which payments would continue to be made for the care of the child, but the extensive and costly caseworker oversight that normally applies under the foster care system would end. This would save funds by reducing expensive foster care administrative requirements, encourage more caregiving by relatives, and allowing caseworkers to focus on oversight of non-relative households to better ensure child safety.
Family Connection Grants
Creates a new discretionary program of up to $50 million per year in HHS grants to public or private organizations designed to promote connections between family members and children in or at risk of entering foster care. These grants will directly target at-risk families.
Notifying Relatives of Foster Care Placement and Encouraging Sibling Placement
Requires States to attempt to locate and notify any adult siblings, grandparents, aunts, or uncles of a child placed in foster care within 30 days of that placement, so the adult relative can participate in the care of the child. This provision will encourage Clark County to exhaust every avenue to locate a family member who could serve as a guardian before placing the child under the protection of the government.
Providing State Option to Extend Payments Until Age 21
This provision compliments efforts Congressman Porter made while serving in the Nevada Senate. Porter passed AB Starting in FY 2011, States may extend the age through which foster care, adoption, or kinship guardianship payments may be made on behalf of a youth in care through age 21 (instead of through age 18 today). However, payments may be made after the youth turns age 18 only for those who are in school or training or working at least part time.
Harmonizing Federal Matching Rates for Training Child Welfare Workers
Increases the matching rate for training private sector child welfare workers from the current 50% rate to the 5% rate that applies to public sector workers today. The rate would rise to 55% in FY 2009, 60% in FY 2010, 65% in FY 2011, 70% in FY 2012, and 75% in FY 2013 and later years. A common problem in Clark County and around the country is there is a shortage of
Improving Educational Stability and Outcomes
Requires States to have a plan for ensuring the educational stability of each child in foster care. Also specifies that foster care and adoption payments may not be made on behalf of a child under age 18 who has not completed high school unless the child is in school or home school full time, or is incapable of attending school full time due to a medical condition.
Reauthorizing and Improving the Current Adoption Incentives Program
Extends through FY 2013 the current Adoption Incentives Program, which provides States bonus funds for increasing adoptions from foster care. Updates the base year for calculating such increases to be FY 2007, and doubles the awards for special needs and older child adoptions to $4,000 and $8,000, respectively.
