Rep. Jim McDermott Introduces the Investment in Kids Act - Calls for Most Comprehensive Reform of Child Welfare in Nearly 30 Years

Press Release

Rep. Jim McDermott Introduces The Investment in Kids Act - Calls for Most Comprehensive Reform of Child Welfare in Nearly 30 Years

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, which has jurisdiction over the nation's child welfare system, today introduced The Investment in Kids Act, which seeks the first comprehensive reform of America's child welfare system in nearly 30 years.

"Every American kid deserves a safe home and a secure life, and in the case of vulnerable children, it is up to us to make sure that happens," Rep. McDermott said.

The legislation, H.R. 5466, has attracted several original co-sponsors, including: Reps. Pete Stark, John Lewis, Shelley Berkley, Artur Davis, Rosa DeLauro, and George Miller.

McDermott's legislative vision represents landmark comprehensive reform. The legislation would provide additional funding to help states in their efforts to strengthen families and protect vulnerable children; make all foster children eligible for assistance for the first time (only 43% of foster children received federal aid in 2006); provide assistance to states to improve and retain their child welfare workforce; eliminate the aging out of foster kids at age 18 by extending support to the age of 21; and, provide financial support to grandparents and other relatives who want to care for foster children.

Noting that the last major overhaul of the child welfare financing system occurred in 1980, McDermott said the legislation is the product of hearings and testimony before his subcommittee over the last year. Additional hearings will be scheduled in coming months to keep attention focused on the need for Congress to exert its responsibility to protect abused and neglected children.

Rep. McDermott said he will actively engage Democrat and Republican colleagues on his subcommittee to find common ground, especially in areas that require immediate attention such as ensuring children in foster care receive adequate health care. McDermott said he may offer individual bills to speed action in several critical areas.

"As a medical doctor, I know that you don't continue to administer the same prescription when it is only partially effective. That's what we have today in our child welfare system and this legislation will change that."

Rep. McDermott noted that The Pew Charitable Trust has been working to improve the outcomes for vulnerable children and their statement about this issue can be found here: www.kidsarewaiting.org.

A summary of the key provision follows and a copy of the legislation is attached.

The Invest in KIDS Act

Title 1 Providing Services to Strengthen Families

Establish a new Child and Family Services Program to fund activities designed to: (1) safely reduce the number of children in foster care; (2) safely reduce the length of stay for children in foster care; (3) increase the percentage of foster children who are in family-like settings; and (4) improve the well-being of children in foster or adoptive families. State spending would be matched at the Medicaid match rate as long as a State demonstrates progress in improving outcomes for children.

Title 2 Ensuring Federal Foster Coverage for All Children in Need

Eliminate the current requirement that a child's birth parents must be eligible for cash welfare under the rules in place in 1996 in order for the child to be eligible for federal foster care assistance. Reduce the federal matching rate to offset most of the associated cost. Ensure that every State retains at least the same amount of funding as would occur under current law. Allow States to have separate foster care licensing standards for relatives. Permit direct foster care assistance for Tribes.

Title 3 Supporting a Qualified Child Welfare Workforce

Provide $200 million per year for States to improve the ability of child welfare workers to ensure positive outcomes for children, with an emphasis on reducing caseloads per worker and increasing case worker training, retention and supervision. Expand the type of child welfare worker eligible for enhanced training funding.

Title 4 Connecting Children to Support, Family, Health Care, and School

Allow States to continue federal foster care coverage until the age of 21. Provide guardianship payments when relatives transition from foster parents to legal guardians. Authorize $50 million per year for activities designed to connect foster children to relatives. Reauthorize and improve the Adoption Incentives program. Require reasonable efforts to place siblings together in foster care. Require States to develop plans to oversee and coordinate health care for foster children. Promote educational stability for children in foster care through improved planning and transportation assistance.

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