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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Policy Options for State Legislatures

A Free Web-Assisted Audio-Conference

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern

Preliminary Agenda

1:00 PM	Welcome
1:05 PM	Overview of Recent Selected State Kinship Care State Legislative Initiatives In recent years lawmakers in a number of states have enacted legislation to support grandparent and other relative caregivers of children.  These efforts include kinship foster care programs, permanent legal guardianships, kinship navigator pilot projects, oversight committees, de facto custodian laws, medical consent, educational enrollment and more.                            Nina Williams-Mbengue, NCSL Click here for the slides.
1:15-1:35 PM	Louisiana Kinship Care Subsidy Program Learn about the development of Louisiana’s Kinship Care Subsidy Program from the policy perspective of a state lawmaker.  The program provides cash assistance for each eligible child who resides with a relative other than a parent.                             Senator Sharon Weston Broome, Louisiana, sponsor of Kinship Care Subsidy Program, Chair Senate Women and Children Select Committee, member National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) Kinship Care Working Group. Click here for the slides.
1:35 -1:55 PM	Ohio Kinship Permanency Incentive Program, Kinship Care Navigator Program, Statewide Kinship Care Task Force Learn about Ohio’s new Kinship Permanency Incentive Program which will provide financial support for minor children (adjudicated abused or neglected) in the legal and physical custody of grandparents, relatives, or other “kinship caregivers.”  The program, funded by TANF, requires a criminal background check of caregivers.  Families may still receive TANF child only benefits and children must be special needs.  Participants will also learn about Ohio’s Kinship Care Navigator Program and work of the statewide Kinship Care Task Force. Crystal Ward Allen, Executive Director, Public Children Services Association of Ohio Click here for the slides.
1:55-2:30 PM	Discussion