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Fostering Connections to Success: Resources in Seven Key Areas
This is a general description of seven key improvements enacted in P.L. 110-351, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008. After each section is a link to important resources from CWLA or others. Some of the resources here are public documents, some are free to CWLA members or available for purchase by nonmembers, and others are links to non-CWLA resources. Check back here weekly as additional resources are posted, updated, and developed.
- Kinship care
The new law allows states to use Title IV-E funds to support kin families. It also extends the training funds available through Title IV-E to be used for training kinship parents. States will have to create a system of notification to relatives when a child comes in to care. The new kinship section also provides at least $5 million a year to provide competitive grants to create a navigator system for all kin families in the state whether they receive Title IV-E funding or not.
CWLA Resources
- Youth in Transition
In two years states, will have the ability to extend Title IV-E foster care to the age of 21. For now, states must have in place a new transition planning process for young people leaving foster care, with the youth and caseworker developing a plan of transition 90 days before departure.
CWLA Resources
- Tribal
For the first time, tribal governments and consortia may apply to run their own Title IV-E foster care, adoption assistance, and kinship programs. State and local governments can have a role by providing some critical needed funding and technical and other assistance. HHS has $3 million in funds to provide technical assistance
CWLA Resources
Other Useful Resources
- Workforce Development
For the first time states can draw IV-E training funds for private agencies. In addition training funds can be used to train court-related personnel
CWLA Resources
- Adoption
Over time, the eligibility link between AFDC and special-needs adoptions is eliminated. The law also provides states with a larger incentive grant if they increase the number of "older" child adoptions (age 9 and older). States will also be required to promote access to the adoption tax credit
CWLA Resources
Other Useful Resources
- Health Care
State are required to work with their Medicaid programs to have more extensive planning and coordination around the health needs of children in care, including how and when screening will be conducted. States will have to outline plans, including medical record keeping and how prescription medication is tracked and used.
CWLA Resources
- Education Access
New case plan requirements direct states to make sure that there is an agreement or arrangement with local school agencies that when it is in the child's best interest, they remain in the same school even when they move out of the district. When a child does have to move then there has to be arrangements to make sure there is immediate enrollment. States are now allowed to include in their foster care rates the cost of transportation. Overall states must offer assurances that all Title IV-E foster children, special needs adoptive children and children in kinship care are enrolled in school when covered by a state compulsory attendance laws.
CWLA Resources
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