''Studies: 'Money Better Spent Helping Family Than on Foster Care''

Progress on Court Reforms

The release of the court recommendations of the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care in 2004 focused greater attention on the need to enhance dependency court performance to achieve improved outcomes for children and youth in foster care and their families. As part of a first of its kind national judicial summit in 2005, states developed action plans to strengthen dependency court performance in the four critical areas identified by the Pew Commission: accountability, collaboration with child welfare agencies, judicial leadership, and constituent voice. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 provided $100 million in court improvement funds to support judicial reforms across the country.

In this review, Kids Are Waiting both examines the progress that states have made since the 2005 summit in strengthening their dependency courts and improving outcomes for children, youth, and families, and makes recommendations for continued improvements.

''Federal Rules Separate Kids from Abusive Families''

The best interest of the child' is the philosophy that should drive child welfare decisions, but the rules that come with federal funding haven't always cooperated.

New Law is Designed to Improve Lives, Outcomes of Nation's Foster Children and Youth

On Tuesday, October 7, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act." This landmark, bipartisan legislation passed by unanimous consent in the House on September 17, thanks to the leadership of Representatives Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Jerry Weller (R-IL) and in the Senate on September 22, due to the efforts of Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Max Baucus (D-MT) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). The new law represents the most significant reform of the nation's foster care system in more than a decade.

Time for Reform

Many significant improvements have been made to the foster care system over the years, and across the country, case workers and court officials have worked to facilitate better outcomes for children in the government’s care. Yet the number of foster youth aging out of care keeps rising. In 2006, the latest year for which data are available, 26,181 youth aged out of care, a 119 percent increase since 1998. On average, youth who aged out of foster care in 2006 spent five years in the system, compared with less than two years for children who left through reunification, adoption, guardianship or other means.

''Senate OKs Foster Care Reform; Bush to Get Bill''

 Michigan's foster children may get three more years of help from the federal government -- to age 21 -- and aunts, uncles, grandparents and other relative caregivers may be in line, too, for some financial aid.

Landmark Foster Care and Adoption Bill Makes Critical Improvements to Nation’s Foster Care System

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act passed by Congress today generates significant improvements to the nation’s child welfare system, making it possible for more children to leave foster care quickly and safely to join permanent families.  This groundbreaking legislation marks the most sweeping Congressional reform of the U.S. foster care system in more than a decade.

America’s Leading Thinkers Propose Innovative New Ideas for Investing in America’s Children

A selection of America's leading thinkers, including a Nobel laureate, award winning economists, researchers, and other notable experts have come together to provide 22 innovative new proposals for dramatically improving the lives of America's children.

Sen. Grassley Wins Committee Passage of Bill to Help Foster Care Kids Get Permanent, Loving Homes

The Senate Finance Committee today approved legislation first proposed by Senator Chuck Grassley to help move kids in foster care to permanent homes. Grassley urged congressional leaders to find a way to achieve final passage of the legislation before the end of this year's session.

''A Second Chance for Children''

Children can spend months or years in foster care waiting for a permanent home, particularly those who are older or have special needs. The federal Adoption Incentive Program helps by giving states money to promote adoptions of children in foster care. But the program will expire next month unless Congress acts.

Baucus Announces Markup of Bills to Support Foster Care and Adoption, Fight Elder Abuse, Exploitation

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) announced today that the panel will hold a business meeting on Friday morning to consider three proposals that would support vulnerable children and protect senior citizens. Baucus said the proposals would strengthen and renew adoption incentives and foster care policies, provide resources to prevent elder abuse, neglect and exploitation, and do more to protect patients receiving care in nursing homes.

Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act of 2008 Would Help More Foster Children Find Permanent Homes through Adoption, Guardianship

On Tuesday May 20, 2008, Senator Charles Grassley (Iowa) introduced the Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act of 2008.  This new legislation champions permanency for children in foster care by reauthorizing the successful Adoption Incentive Program that encourages states to finalize more adoptions from foster care, ensures that all foster children with special needs can receive vital federal assistance, and provides federal guardianship support for grandparents and other relatives who want to provide a permanent home for the children they are raising.

''Foster Care Should Respect Heritage''

"According to a report by the National Indian Child Welfare Association and Kids Are Waiting, Washington has one of the nation's highest rates of American Indian foster children. While they make up only 2 percent of Washington's child population, American Indians represent 8.4 percent of children in foster care."

Strengthening Families Through Guardianship

More than 500,000 children will close their eyes tonight as wards of the state in foster care. They are waiting for the security, stability and love of permanent families. Foster care was created as a short-term safety net for children in crisis, however, on average children will languish in care for more than two years. More than half the children leaving foster care will return home to their birth parents, and about 18 percent will leave foster care to adoptive families. For some, however, reunification with their parents or adoption is not an option.

''Use of Foster Care Down Across State''

 "When doctors found fractures in 23-day-old Giosyra Prendes' legs and ribs and evidence of shaken-baby syndrome, Lehigh County child welfare authorities placed her in foster care..."

Statement of Hope Cooper, Senior Program Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the House Committee on Ways and Means

In 2003 Pew launched a national initiative aimed at finding ways to reduce the number of children languishing in foster care without permanent families.   To date, we have invested more than $23 million towards achieving this goal.   The initiative began with the work of the Pew Commission on Children in Foster care.  In 2004, after more than a year of intensive study,   the commission issued a report with policy recommendations for state court and federal financing reforms.