Last night the Senate adopted the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (HR 6893). The legislation contains significant improvements in both foster care and adoption assistance. The bill now goes to President Bush who is expected to sign it. The new law will:

• Reauthorize and update the adoption incentives program
• Gradually de-link Title IV-E adoption assistance from income requirements so that all children with special needs eventually have access to this federal support
• Provide for Title IV-E funding of kinship guardianship placements
• Extend direct Title IV-E funding to tribal governments
• Allow states to receive federal reimbursement for support provided to foster youth up to age 21
• Create a grant program to support kinship caregivers
• Require reasonable efforts to keep siblings together
• Require agencies to inform prospective adopters about the tax credit

Thanks to the many counties who joined in to support the measure!!