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| Greetings NACHSA Members! |
Child welfare reform is gaining attention in Congress with the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-OR) releasing a 'discussion draft' and one page summary of child welfare prevention initiatives funded through IV-E federal foster care. The draft includes IV-E reimbursement for up to 12 months of services to keep children out of foster care who have been identified as 'candidates for foster care' (as well as their family members) or to help a child exit care. Eligible services would include, but not be limited to: parenting skills; counseling; substance use; housing barriers; and domestic violence services. Additionally, the discussion draft proposes to increase mandatory funding under the Title IV-B Promoting Safe and Stable Families program to $1 billion from the current level of $345 million. Those funds also support prevention services and family reunification efforts.
Early next week, the Senate Finance Committee will conduct a hearing on Reducing Reliance on Foster Care Group Homes.
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| Human Services Resources | |
NACHSA Members Tackling Predictive Analytics: This recent article in the Chronicle of Social Change highlights discussions underway in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA and Los Angeles County, CA on the potential of implementing a predictive data model as a helpful tool to assist child welfare workers in deciding which children face the greatest risk of harm.
May is National Foster Care Month: This month is set aside to acknowledge foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections. During National Foster Care Month, HHS provides resources, real-life stories, and ways to support foster youth and families. Click here to view them.
Child Maltreatment 2013: Summary of Key Findings: This factsheet summarizes Child Maltreatment 2013, a report based on data from State child protective services (CPS) agencies for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013. The full Child Maltreatment 2013 report is available here. Data indicate a decrease in overall rates of child victimization and in deaths from maltreatment and an increase in overall rates of children who received a response from a CPS agency.
The Human, Social, & Economic Cost of Aging Out: This month's issue of National Council For Adoption's (NCFA) Adoption Advocate, lays out the enormous social and economic cost when youth age out of foster care - as approximately 25,000 do every year - in an effort to increase public awareness of the challenges facing those who do not find permanency, and provide policymakers with sound recommendations to help youth in care find the long-term stability and support they need. Click here to download the PDF.
New Materials for Foster Youth/Medicaid Eligibility: The Juvenile Law Center has developed new materials to inform current and former foster youth about their eligibility for Medicaid to age 26 if they were in foster care at age 18 or older and enrolled in Medicaid at that time. Furthermore, some delinquent youth may be eligible if they were in a placement considered "foster care" at age 18 or older and also enrolled in Medicaid at that time. Visit the Juvenile Law Center's coveredtil26 web page, which includes two new flyers and other resource materials and information on how former foster youth can apply for Medicaid in any state.
Medicaid Costs Concentrated: Five percent of Medicaid-only enrollees consistently account for almost half of all Medicaid expenditures, according to this Government Accountability Office study. In contrast, the least expensive 50 percent of Medicaid-only enrollees - -mainly women and children -- accounted for less than 8 percent of Medicaid expenditures. State-by-state data are included.
HHS Releases Older Americans Profile: More than 30,000 Americans are now over the age of 100. Over the past 10 years, the U.S. population age 65 and over increased by approximately 25 percent, from roughly 36 million in 2003 to 45 million in 2013. An important aspect of this growth is that it is not equally distributed across states. For example, the population age 65 and over increased by 30 percent or more in 20 states. Read the report and state data tables here.
Webinar on Supporting Grandfamilies: Join Generations United (GU) and the National Consumer Law Center for a webinar on Tues., May 19, 2pm - 3:30pm EDT. GU's Special Advisor Ana Beltran will address the strengths and challenges of grandfamilies both inside and outside the foster care system. After exploring relevant federal laws, state care and custody options, and benefits and services, attendees will come away with practical tools and resources to better serve grandfamilies. Learn more and register today. |
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Tom Joseph
National Association of County Human Services Administrators
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