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February 2012
IN THIS NEWSLETER
PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS
WE CAN HELP YOU FOR FREE
NCSL can help state child welfare systems develop ways to safely reduce the number of children in foster care through:
- Presentations, informal briefings and testimony before committees and hearings,
- Written research and analyses, or
- Informal telephone conference calls with state child welfare administrators, legislators and legislative staff in other states to discuss their experiences with child welfare reform.
CHILD WELFARE FEDERAL DEMONSTRATION WAIVERS
In September 2011, Congress and President Obama restored the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services to issue Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration projects through the Child Welfare and Family Services Innovation Act (Public Law Number 111-34). Click here for a summary of the Act.
Child welfare waiver demonstration projects were first authorized in 1994 and expanded in 1997 through the Adoption and Safe Families Act. However, the waiver authority expired in March 2006. Since 1996, 23 states have implemented one or more waiver demonstrations for a total of 32 waivers. The Title IV-E waiver projects provide states with opportunities to use federal funds for innovative approaches in child welfare service delivery and financing. The waivers give states flexibility in the use of federal funds for alternative services and supports that promote safety and permanency for children in the child protection and foster care systems. Click here for more information on state experience with past Title IV-E waivers.
Through the Child Welfare and Family Services Innovation Act, HHS now has the authority to issue 10 waiver demonstration projects per year for the next three fiscal years (2012-2014), for a total of 30 waivers. Title IV-E waivers may be for up to five years with extensions possible through September 30, 2019.
LEGISLATIVE ROLE
Following is an example from Washington State where legislators are working closely with their state agency in applying for the Title IV-E waiver.
- Washington: Washington has created a statewide advisory committee to make recommendations to the Children's Administration about the state's Title IV-E waiver application for a federal demonstration project. Click here to view more information about this advisory committee and the involvement of the legislature.
TITLE IV-E WAIVERS WEBINARS
The National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices, in partnership with the American Public Human Services Association and the Public Consulting Group, Inc., has hosted a series of webinars highlighting the Title IV-E waivers.
- New Waiver Opportunities, November 29, 2011:
To listen to an audio recording of the webinar, click here. To view the Power Point slides, click here.
- Fiscal Readiness Quick Assessment, December 6, 2011:
To listen to an audio recording of the webinar, click here.
- Reflective Thinking Guide/Change Management, December 13, 2011:
To listen to an audio recording of the webinar, click here.
CHILD WELFARE AND THE COURTS: Judicial Commission on Children
A number of states have developed commissions, task forces or other multidisciplinary bodies that bring representatives from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches together with the private sector to advance public policies that are in the best interest of children. Judicial commissions work to improve the court systems that handle child protection and child welfare cases. There are at least 20 states that currently have judicial commissions. For more information on commissions and task forces in specific states, click here .
- California: In 2006, when Chief Justice Ronald M. George first appointed the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care, he charged it with providing recommendations to the Judicial Council of California on the ways in which the courts and their child welfare partners could improve safety, permanency, well-being, and fairness outcomes for children and families. After the commission issued its recommendations in August 2008, the Chief Justice reappointed the commission for another three years, starting in June 2009, to work on implementing the recommendations.
- Texas: The mission of the Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families is to strengthen courts for children, youth and families in the Texas child-protection system and thereby improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. To view a webinar hosted by NCSL on the Texas Commission, click here.
- New York: The New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children was established in 1988 to improve the lives and life chances of children involved with New York courts. The Commission is chaired by former Chief Judge Judith Kaye, and its members include judges, lawyers, advocates, physicians, legislators, and state and local officials.
A recent report from the National Center for State Courts entitled, Strategies for Effective Statewide Judicial Commissions for the Protection of Children, presents findings and recommendations from a study of statewide judicial commissions on the protection of children. Click here to view the report.
CHILD WELFARE HIGHLIGHTS
Searchable Databases launched by the Children’s Bureau
- State Guides and Manuals is a new searchable database compiled by the Child Welfare Information Gateway. The database links to publications created by State agencies that describe their services and provide guidance on child welfare-related topics (such as kinship care, standards for family foster homes, permanency and child protection) to both professional and general audiences. The publications are organized by topic and cover a wide range of issues across the child welfare continuum. Click here to visit the State Guides and Manuals Search on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.
- Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data site is a data website which allows one to click on a map and build a variety of state child welfare outcome data based on the 2007 though 2010 years. The data included in this site provides information on each state's performance in seven outcome areas as well as demographic information on the state’s child welfare population. Click here to view the website.
NCSL CHILD WELFARE QUICK LINKS
For questions about this newsletter or to be removed from our distribution list, please e-mail childwelfare@ncsl.org.
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Issues & Resources
Find the NCSLstaff member who handles the issue in which you are interested.
NCSLprovides access to current state and federal legislation and a comprehensive list of state documents, including state statutes, constitutions, legislative audits and research reports.
Members
As legislators and legislative staff, you are part of the nation's largest, most influential and only bipartisan organization of state legislators and staff.Learn about the resources NCSL has for you.
NCSL offers an array of services for legislative staff. Find out what's available.
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