rates on a set schedule or make adjustments based on inflation . Foster parents are a unique class of people who open their homes to children that are in dire need . Foster parents are the foundation of the system because they provide a nurturing environment that Child Protective Services cannot provide . Despite reimbursement for some incidentals , they receive no cost of living adjustments , not to mention consideration of the “ overtime ” they put in . Yet , in fiscal conversations , they are oftentimes reduced to a line item expenditure . entities best promote the interests of children and families . Government expenditures could simply be continued and expanded . This method , however , ignores the potential of carefully designed private support programs . A first-of-its-kind initiative like Strive is an innovative breakaway from years of dismal results under the current government-tailored foster care system .
The goal of foster care is not to punish or embarrass parents , but rather to place children in environments that are in their best interest . Partners for Our Children ( POC ), a center within the University of Washington ’ s School of Social Work , aims to help parents become better caregivers and in turn , reunite families . 18 The director of the program , Ben de Haan , stated , “ If you don ’ t engage these parents in more effective parenting , they and their children become lifelong users of very expensive services … we ’ re thinking about this from a prevention angle .” 19
In Seattle , Washington , Strive 20 is funded mostly through private donations , with around $ 150,000 coming from the state . The program recognizes the need to move away from relying on narrowly defined initiatives developed under federal funding . POC demonstrates the necessity to strengthen families , rather than tear them apart . Child welfare often entails emotionally challenging steps , but when evidence-based , open-sourced practices are on the table , class action suits and government intervention in child welfare should not be . Foster care reform is rooted in jurisdictional parameters , separating which
1
U . S . DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES , ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES , CHILDREN ’ S BUREAU , AFCARS REPORT # 22 ( 2011 ), http :// www . acf . hhs . gov / programs / cb / resource / afcars-report-22 .
2
Id . at 3 .
3
Id . at 1 , 3 . (“ Waiting children are identified as children who have a goal of adoption and / or whose parents ’ parental rights have been terminated . Children 16 years old and older whose parents ’ parental rights have been terminated and who have a goal of emancipation have been excluded from the estimate .”). Id . at 4 .
4
Id . at 4 .
5
Aging out or emancipation generally occurs when children reach the age of 18 or finish high school . Some states provide extended care through the ages of 20 or 21 . Extending Foster Care Beyond 18 , NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES ( March 11 , 2016 ), http :// www . ncsl . org / research / human-services / extending-foster-care-to-18 . aspx .
6
Aging Out , JIM CASEY YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES INITIATIVE , http :// www . jimcaseyyouth . org / about / aging-out ( last visited Jan . 25 , 2016 ).
7
Id .
8
Statement from Secretary Sebelius on National Foster Care Month , RURAL NEVADA DEMO- CRATIC CAUCUS , https :// nvrdc . wordpress . com / 2012 / 05 / 01 / statement-from-secretary-sebelius-on-national-foster-care-month / ( last visited Jan . 8 , 2016 ).
9
The ASFA has made significant changes to the child welfare system by encouraging permanency in placement decisions , recognizing kinship caregivers as a legitimate option , placing increased accountability on child welfare agencies , and clarifying when states do not have to make reasonable efforts to reunify children with their birthparents .
10
Sheila A . by Balloun v . Whiteman , 913 P . 2d 181 ( Kan . 1996 ).
11
Id . at 185 .
12
Id . at 186 .
13
Id . at 189 .
14
Id .
15
For the Welfare of Children : Lessons learned from Class Action Litigation , CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY , http :// www . cssp . org / publications / child-welfare / class-action-reform / For-the-Welfare-of-Children _ Lessons-Learned-from-Class-Action-Litigation _ January-2012 . pdf ( last visited Jan . 8 , 2016 ).
16
Kerry DeVooght , Megan Fletcher , and Hope Cooper , Federal , State , and Local Spending to Address Child Abuse and Neglect in SFY 2012 , CHILD TRENDS , http :// childtrends . org / wp-content / uploads / 2014 / 09 / SFY-2012-Report-for-Posting-July2015 . pdf ( last visited Jan . 8 , 2016 ).
The Title IV-E Foster Care Program reimburses states for expenditures in three categories : ( 1 ) maintenance payments that cover the costs of shelter , food , and clothing for eligible children ; ( 2 ) placement services and administrative costs related to foster care ( which may include activities such as case planning and pre-placement services , Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System ( SACWIS ) costs , caseworker and supervisor salaries , eligibility determination , and other general overhead and administrative costs incurred ); and ( 3 ) expenses related to training of staff and foster parents .
17
Id . at 18 .
18
Deborah Bach , New Open-Source Program Aims to Help Parents of Children in Foster Care , UW TODAY , http :// www . washington . edu / news / 2015 / 01 / 06 / new-open-source-program-aims-tohelp-parents-of-children-in-foster-care / ( last visited Jan . 8 , 2016 ).
19
Id .
20
Strive is a set of new parent-support and education programs being designed specifically for parents involved in the child welfare system . It can be downloaded online at no cost and consists of 15 sessions that focus on helping parents understand issues such as problem-solving , self-care , dealing with trauma , and managing setbacks . The center is also developing a model that uses group classes , specifically designed for parents with children in foster care . Id . See also STRIVE : Essential Steps for Parental Success , PARTNERS FOR OUR CHILDREN , http :// partnersforourchildren . org / projects / strive ( last visited Apr . 25 , 2016 ).
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