Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
Encyclopedia
The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (enacted as Public Law 110-351) was an Act of Congress
in the United States signed into law by President George W. Bush
on October 7, 2008. It was previously unanimously passed in both the House of Representatives
and in the Senate
. The law made numerous changes to the child welfare system, mostly to Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, which covers federal payments to states for foster care
and adoption assistance. According to child welfare experts and advocates, the law made the most significant federal improvements to the child welfare system in over a decade.
(the Federal government
supports the states through funding and legislative initiatives). Major changes include:
, the new law will reduce deficits by $12 million between 2009 and 2018, although it will initially increase direct spending by $323 million between 2009 and 2013.
(D-WA) and former Representative Jerry Weller
(R-IL) were active in the legislation’s drafting and eventual passage. In the Senate, Senators Max Baucus
(D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) were leaders on the bill.
Notable organizations that were involved in various stages of drafting, and revising the statute, and lobbying Congress included:
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
in the United States signed into law by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on October 7, 2008. It was previously unanimously passed in both the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and in the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. The law made numerous changes to the child welfare system, mostly to Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, which covers federal payments to states for foster care
Foster care
Foster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
and adoption assistance. According to child welfare experts and advocates, the law made the most significant federal improvements to the child welfare system in over a decade.
Changes
The new law made a number of changes to the child welfare system, which is primarily the responsibility of the statesU.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
(the Federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
supports the states through funding and legislative initiatives). Major changes include:
- Allowing all states the option to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments, or payments to relative foster parents committed to caring permanently for a child who has been living with them for at least six months. This will help facilitate the transfer of children from state custody to relative guardianship in instances where a return home or adoption is not appropriate.
- Allowing states to provide IV-E funded foster care to children up to age 21, given that such a child is enrolled in school, a vocational program, is employed, or is unable to fulfill these requirements due to a medical condition. This option helps to facilitate a longer period of support for children up to age 21.
- Requiring case plans to ensure that foster care placements are not unduly disruptive of the child’s education.
- Requiring states to develop a case plan for the oversight and coordination of health care services for children in foster care, in conjunction with the state Medicaid agency and other experts.
- Requiring states to make reasonable efforts to keep siblings together in foster care placements.
- Allowing, for the first time, tribes to receive federal funding to directly administer their own child welfare programs (previously, tribes had to negotiate with states to receive IV-E funding).
- Gradually “de-linking” a child’s eligibility for adoption assistance payments from the outdated Aid to Families with Dependent ChildrenAid to Families with Dependent ChildrenAid to Families with Dependent Children was a federal assistance program in effect from 1935 to 1996, which was administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services...
standards, which had not been updated for inflation since 1996, as the program no longer existed. Because this provision costs money, the de-linking will occur over a period of nine years.
Savings and costs
According to the Congressional Budget OfficeCongressional Budget Office
The Congressional Budget Office is a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides economic data to Congress....
, the new law will reduce deficits by $12 million between 2009 and 2018, although it will initially increase direct spending by $323 million between 2009 and 2013.
Leadership
In the House, Representative Jim McDermottJim McDermott
James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means...
(D-WA) and former Representative Jerry Weller
Jerry Weller
Gerald C. "Jerry" Weller is an American politician who was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing .- Early life:...
(R-IL) were active in the legislation’s drafting and eventual passage. In the Senate, Senators Max Baucus
Max Baucus
Max Sieben Baucus is the senior United States Senator from Montana and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected to the Senate in 1978, as of 2010 he is the longest-serving Senator from Montana, and the fifth longest-serving U.S...
(D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) were leaders on the bill.
Notable organizations that were involved in various stages of drafting, and revising the statute, and lobbying Congress included:
- Alliance for Children and FamiliesAlliance for Children and FamiliesThe Alliance for Children and Families, also referred to as simply the Alliance, is an international, membership-based non-profit organization. Its nearly 400 members from almost every U.S...
- American Academy of PediatricsAmerican Academy of PediatricsThe American Academy of Pediatrics is the major professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP was founded in 1930 by 35 pediatricians to address pediatric healthcare standards. It currently has 60,000 members in primary care and sub-specialist areas...
- American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
’s Center on Children and the Law - Casey Family ProgramsCasey Family Programsis the nation’s largest operating foundation entirely focused on foster care. Since 1966, they have worked to provide and improve—and ultimately prevent the need for—foster care in the United States...
- Center for Law and Social PolicyCenter for Law and Social PolicyThe Center for Law and Social Policy is a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates for policies aimed at improving the lives of low-income people.- History and work :...
- Child Welfare League of AmericaChild Welfare League of AmericaThe Child Welfare League of America or CWLA is the oldest child welfare organization in the United States. The organization's primary objective is to "Make Children a National Priority...
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Court Appointed Special Advocates
- National Conference of State LegislaturesNational Conference of State LegislaturesThe National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
- Voices for America's ChildrenVoices for America's Children-About:Voices for America's Children is a 501 non-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Voices is a U.S. nonpartisan, national organization that advocates for the well-being of children at the federal, state and local levels of government...