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December 17, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, over 100 federal and state advocacy organizations called on Congress to temporarily increase federal payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance as Congress drafts a new economic stimulus plan. In addition, the coalition has urged increases to the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and community-based child abuse prevention programs through the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).
“Times of economic crisis cause family stress, which results in a diminished capacity to safely care for children, putting more children at risk and in need of child protection services,” said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus, the bipartisan children’s advocacy organization that spearheaded the letter. “During an economic recession, children are more vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Yet at the same time, states face declining resources to care for those children in need. We believe that an increase in federal resources would not only provide significant fiscal relief to states, but is imperative in helping meet the needs of children and families during these difficult economic times.”
First Focus released this letter in conjunction with a report that highlights the devastating impacts of poverty and economic shifts on vulnerable families, while also providing evidence for the increased risk of child abuse during an economic crisis. Moreover, the report identifies federal policies that can be implemented today to help states address the needs of high-risk families during this difficult economic period.
In a letter to congressional leadership, the coalition pushed for increases in the form of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, a federal program administered by state and local public child welfare agencies that provides assistance to vulnerable children and youth. Specifically, Title IV-E provides payments to states on behalf of each child who has been removed from the home, as well as adoption assistance and reimbursement for administrative and training expenses. Funding would be automatically increased along with an expected boost to the federal matching rate of the Medicaid program, unless Congress intentionally “de-links” the two.
States are currently struggling to balance budgets and some have already cut programs for vulnerable children and families. At a minimum, 5 states, including Connecticut, Illinois, and Maryland have ordered budget cuts to child welfare programs. Counties in states such Ohio have not been able to regularly pay foster caregivers since last spring.
The coalition is also advocating for SSBG funds to provide assistance to those that are struggling with significant job loss and unemployment. In addition, they are pushing for additional CAPTA resources, as they play a critical role in delivering abuse prevention services to families in need. Sadly, their budgets are often based on charitable donations, which are likely to diminish in these difficult economic times.
The letter reads, “[A]s the economy weakens and state and local revenues dwindle, the need for public programs increases. The federal government can help by providing states with assistance in the form of additional emergency funding for child welfare services as part of an economic recovery strategy. Doing so will help states maintain essential child welfare programs and services, as well as ensure that states are not forced to make additional cuts to desperately needed services. While a Federal Financial Participation (FFP) adjustment for Title IV-E and increases to SSBG and CAPTA would amount to a small investment, these funds would be of enormous help in caring for abused and neglected children.”
Click here to download copies of the letter and report.
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