Implementation News
Some states have made significant progress in implementing the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. This section highlights the enacted legislation and approaches underway across the nation. If you know of a state which has made good progress that should be featured here, please contact us at .
Adoption
Education
- Texas' Educational Stability
Texas DFPS amended its policy in CPS Handbook 6314.1 to strengthen requirements to help ensure a child is maintained in his or her school when a removal takes place or, if in care, when a placement change takes place. The education section of the Chi...
- Education Highlights Page
See the Education Highlights Page on FosteringConnections.org for more resources and tools to help support implementation of the education provisions of the Fostering Connections Act....
- Connecticut: SB 31
In the spring of 2010, Connecticut passed Senate Bill 31, which went into effect July 1, 2010. The law established that, when it is in the child's best interest to remain in his or her school of origin (SOO): The Connecticut Department of Children...
- Minnesota: Educational Stability
In Minnesota, a county administered child welfare system, the Minnesota Department of Human Services released a Bulletin to address implementation of the education provisions of the Fostering Connections Act, including details about reimbursement of ...
- Butte & San Diego Counties: Educational Stability
Two California counties - Butte and San Diego - have developed collaborative approaches to ensure that children and youth in foster care have needed school transportation. Both counties respond to children's transportation needs on a case-by-case bas...
- Philadelphia: Educational Stability
In Philadelphia, the Department of Human Services (DHS), the School District of Philadelphia (School District), and the Family Court collaborate to ensure school transportation for all children in foster care in accordance with the State's definition...
Kinship/Guardianship
- Alaska's Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
Alaska's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- Washington's Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
Washington's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- Hawai'i's Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
Hawai'i's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- Missouri's Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
Missouri's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- Nebraska's Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
Nebraska's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- Texas Guardianship Assistance Program
Texas' Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- South Dakota's Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
South Dakota's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- Alabama Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
Alabama's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- New York Guardianship Assistance Program
New York's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. New York's Office of Children and Family Services provides policy information about GAP. See here for more information.&n...
- Maryland Guardianship Assistance Program
Maryland's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. Maryland's plan extends GAP up to age 21. More information coming soon....
- Michigan's Guardianship Assistance Program
The Michigan Department of Human Services is the fourth state in the nation to receive an approved state plan amendment for the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (Kin-GAP). Michigan had enacted state legislation authorizing guardianship for ch...
- Rhode Island's Guardianship Assistance Program
Rhode Island's state plan amendment for guardianship approved Following the passage of the Fostering Connections Act, Rhode Island was the first state to receive an approved state plan amendment for the federal guardianship assistance progra...
- Pennsylvania's Guardianship Assistance Program
Pennsylvania’s state plan amendment for guardianship approved In 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Children, Youth and Families received approval from the federal government for its state plan amendment for ...
- Tennessee's Guardianship Assistance Program
In 2009, the Tennessee Department of Children's Services received approval from the federal government for its state plan amendment for the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP). Tennessee had been conducting a Title IV-E waiver demonstr...
- Montana's Guardianship Assistance Program
Montana's previous subsidized guardianship waiver program, which ended in 2008, paved the way for its recently approved GAP program. A total of 96 children covered by the waiver program are grandfathered into GAP. The program features a broad defin...
- Oregon's Guardianship Assistance Program
Oregon's State Plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) was approved in July 2010 and will cover eligible children beginning January 2011. The program builds on the state's federal child welfare waiver that allowed eligible child...
- New Jersey's Guardianship Assistance Program
New Jersey's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon. ...
- Illinois' Guardianship Assistance Program
Illinois' Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon. ...
- District of Columbia's Guardianship Assistance Program
The District of Columbia's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon. ...
- Colorado's Guardianship Assistance Program
Colorado's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon. ...
- Maine's Guardianship Assistance Program
Maine's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
- Listing of Family Connection Grants
Family Connection Discretionary Grants Up to $1,000,000 per year for up to 3 years. YMCA of San Diego County, San Diego, CA Four Oaks Family and Children's Services, Cedar Rapids, IA Amethyst, Inc., Columbus, OH State of Hawaii Department of Hu...
- CA: Aspiranet Inc.Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Aspiranet Inc.'s grant summary here. ...
- MN: Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association's summary here....
- NJ: The Children's Home Society of New Jersey Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey summary here....
- CA: YMCA of San Diego County, YMCA Youth & Family Services Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find YMCA of San Diego County, YMCA Youth & Family Services summary here....
- WI: Children's Service Society of Wisconsin Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find the Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin's summary here....
- IA: Four Oaks Family and Children's Services Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find the Four Oaks Family and Children's Services summary here....
- NJ: International Social Service-USA Branch Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find the International Social Service-USA Branch's summary here....
- FL: Kids Central Inc. Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Kids Central Inc.'s summary here....
- FL: Partnership for Strong Families Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find the Partnership for Strong Families summary here....
- OH: Amethyst, Inc. Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Amethyst, Inc.'s summary here....
- OR: OnTrack Inc. Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find OnTrack Inc.'s summary here....
- TN: Renewal House, Inc. Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find the Renewal House, Inc.'s summary here....
- MN: The Wayside House Inc. Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find The Wayside House Inc.'s summary here....
- WI: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Wisconsin Department of Children and Families summary here....
- WA: Catholic Charities Diocese of Yakima's Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Catholic Charities Diocese of Yakima's summary here....
- CA: Lilliput Children's Services Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Lilliput Children’s Services summary here....
- ME: Maine DHHS, Office of Child and Family Services Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Maine DHHS, Office of Child and Family Services summary here....
- MD: Maryland Department of Human Resources Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Maryland Department of Human Resources' summary here....
- OK: Oklahoma Department of Human Services Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Oklahoma Department of Human Service's summary here....
- RI: Rhode Island Foster Parents Association's Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Rhode Island Foster Parents Association's summary here....
- SC: South Carolina Department of Social Service Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find South Carolina Department of Social Service's summary here....
- HI: State of Hawaii Department of Human Services Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find the State of Hawaii Department of Human Service's summary here....
- CA: Edgewood Center for Children and Families Family Connection Grant Summary
On September 30th, 2009, the Children's Bureau awarded 24 discretionary grants. Find Edgewood Center for Children and Families summary here....
- Report: "Pursuing Permanence for Children in Foster Care: Issues and Options for Establishing a Federal Guardianship Assistance Program in New York State"
This report outlines options and issues with respect to a Federal Guardianship Assistance Program in New York State. Click here to read the report....
- Idaho's Kinship Guradianship Assistance Program
Idaho's Federal IV-E plan amendment for the Guardianship Assistance Program has been approved. More information coming soon....
Older Youth
Print this page