Casey Family Programs
206.270.4907 (direct phone)
206.335.9263 (cell)
mmcomber@casey.org
Seattle — Casey Family Programs celebrates the first anniversary of landmark child welfare legislation with the announcement of a new center that empowers local decision-makers with the knowledge they need to move children from foster care to safe and permanent homes.
The Fostering Connections Resource Center has been created by a consortium of foundations to provide timely and reliable tools and information on all aspects of the federal law, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
The law strengthens support for family relatives who care for abused and neglected children outside of the formal foster care system; gives American Indian tribes the same access to federal child welfare funding that states currently receive; and provides opportunities for additional assistance to older youth who are aging out of the system.
Across the country, steps are being taken to implement the law. State policymakers, however, are grappling with a wide variety of challenges, particularly those brought on by today’s challenging economic times. During a Sept. 15 congressional hearing to examine progress of implementing the Fostering Connections Act, there was a consensus among state officials and experts that the current recession had hindered states from focusing fully on the new opportunities the new federal policy provides.
In addition, several aspects of the law were found to pose significant challenges, such as new requirements for state child welfare agencies to coordinate with local education agencies and state health plans. State officials and experts expressed the need for clarity or additional guidance from federal officials.
“Congress took a bold and important step a year ago today by passing the most important federal child welfare legislation in at least a decade,” said Cari DeSantis, executive vice president for public affairs and communications of Casey Family Programs. “Casey and our consortium partners are committed to removing any barrier to implementation of the Fostering Connections Act. None of us want a child to wait a minute longer than necessary to live in a safe, loving and permanent family home.”
The Fostering Connection Resource Center is the product of a coalition of sponsoring foundations that are committed to improving lives of vulnerable children and families. They agree that timely and effective implementation of the Fostering Connections Act can positively affect the lives of millions of children and families.
They created the Fostering Connections Resource Center to:
- Provide nonpartisan, timely and reliable tools and information on all aspects of the act in order to ensure that states, tribes and other decision-makers are well informed and that they receive maximum support as they plan for and carry out implementation.
- Be a clear sign to federal policymakers about the field’s enthusiasm for and commitment to the new law.
- Undertake a range of activities in support of helping policymakers plan and execute implementation.
The Resource Center will:
- Share new tools and resources as they become available with decision-makers and others who work closely with state leaders to shape policy.
- Showcase steps taken by early adopters so other states and tribes can benefit from experience of others and become aware of best practices.
- Serve as a one-stop information clearinghouse to apprise state and national stakeholders about progress in implementation as well as challenges encountered across the country.
The Fostering Connections Resource Center includes a Web site (www.fosteringconnections.org) providing reliable, non-partisan data on all aspects of the law and customized tools created by experts.
In addition to Casey Family Programs, the Fostering Connection Resource Center consortium members are: Annie E Casey Foundation, Dave Thomas Foundation on Adoption, Duke Endowment, Eckerd Family Foundation, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, Sierra Health Foundation, Stuart Foundation and Walker S. Johnson Foundation.