Issue Position: Caring for Maryland's Children
Issue Position
Caring for Maryland's Children
Thirteen years ago, my life changed forever when I became an adoptive parent, and held my son Jonathan for the first time. And from that day to today -- through birthday presents and baseball games, fishing trips and learning fractions -- Jonathan's love has been one of the great gifts of my life.
When I look at Jonathan, I see so much promise and possibility, and I'm reminded of the positive impact of opening your home and heart to a child who needs you in their life. Children like my son are the reason I've spent the past decade going from community to community, sharing with more Marylanders the joy of adoption. He's the reason why I've spent my career in the Legislature -- and recently, as Lieutenant Governor -- fighting for laws that protect our children, while giving advocates, foster parents, and families the tools they need to help every child in our state find a permanent, loving home.
Building a better Maryland for more Marylanders includes protecting our children, and recognizing that each of us bears a responsibility to care for all of the children in our community, beginning with our own and also those who are most vulnerable and in need of a home.
Over the past seven years, we've seen tremendous progress in this effort. We've found permanent places to live for over 17,000 children while reducing the number of children in foster care 43%, reducing the number of children in group homes by 57%, and updating our state's child support guidelines for the first time in over twenty years(1).
But while we have made progress, our efforts cannot -- and will not -- end here.
Today, there remain children in every corner of our state who are awaiting adoption. Since no community in Maryland remains untouched by this need, we must remain committed to a comprehensive plan, one that helps more children find permanent homes while making foster care, when necessary, a temporary stop on the path to a permanent home.
That's why we're going to implement our three-point plan: 1) reduce the number of children in foster care by 1,000 and the percentage of youth returning to foster care to 10% by 2018; 2) establish a trauma-informed child welfare system; and 3) dedicate funding to build transitional housing for young adults who age out of foster care.
Although our challenges remain difficult, the impact of these goals is clear. Children adopted out of foster care into a permanent home are 21% less likely to be suspended or expelled from school, 23% more likely to finish high school or get a GED, 20% less likely to be a teen parent, 200% more likely to receive mental health services when necessary, and 50% less likely to be arrested(2).
In order for our children -- all of our children -- to have bright futures, then our work must begin now. And by working together, we can make those bright futures a reality.
What We've Achieved
Progress: By using data, focusing our resources, improving relationships with group homes and recruiting hundreds of new foster and adoptive parents, Maryland has:
* Placed over 17,000 children in permanent places to live since 2007(3);
* Reduced the number of children in foster care 43% -- a 26-year low(4);
* Reduced the number of children residing in group homes by 57%(5);
* Recruited and retained more than 2,000 foster parents(6);
* Expanded college tuition waivers for former foster youth to age 25(7); and
* Updated the state's child support guidelines for the first time in over 20 years(8).
Mission: The Brown-Ulman Administration will enhance Maryland's community-based child welfare system so that all families have the resources to navigate challenges; and foster care, when necessary, is a temporary stop on the path to a permanent home.
1. Reduce the Number of Youth in Foster Care by 1,000 and Returning to Foster Care to 10% -- by 2018.
We will achieve our goals by:
* Launching an Aggressive Public Service Announcement (PSA) and Informational Campaign Aimed at Increasing Awareness of and Interest in Adopting Maryland Foster Children;
* Establishing Statewide Mentoring Networks to Support Both Adoptive Families and Youth Aging Out of Foster Care; and
* Securing a Federal Child Welfare Waiver for the State of Maryland
In order to recruit adoptive families, County Executive Ulman and I will launch a campaign of PSAs to convey the benefits of in-state adoption as a means of starting or growing a family. We will engage television, radio and social media to convey this important message, asking Marylanders to consider adoption and directing them to the resources they need to become adoptive parents.
A key component of this effort will include increasing the visibility of all Maryland children eligible for adoption available on the Department of Human Resources website and at Adoptuskids.org. We will strive to ensure that every child eligible for adoption has a detailed profile that is searchable by all potential adoptive parents and agencies.
We will also expand our efforts to research and identify adults from foster youth's past through "family finding" initiatives(10). These adults, whether family or trusted friends, are critical to a successful adoption recruitment program. These adults also provide a stable and supportive network for the child throughout their lifetime.
Through this campaign, we will recruit new adoptive families and place more Maryland youth in permanent homes, reducing the number of children in our foster care system.
Establish Statewide Mentoring Networks to Support Both Adoptive Families and Youth Aging Out of Foster Care.
The needs of youth and families that touch the child welfare system are ever-evolving and the necessity of community-based support does not terminate when a child is adopted or ages out of foster care.
Drawing upon the rich tradition of volunteerism and community service in Maryland, we will create statewide mentoring networks to: (1) support families who have adopted children and (2) aid youth making the transition from foster care to adulthood. We will partner with non-profits and local departments of social services to ensure that all foster care youth and adoptive families have access to well-trained, caring and committed advisors in their communities.
Youth aging out of the foster care system are more likely to experience "homelessness, poor education outcomes, poor health, unemployment, and incarceration."(11) The presence of a mentor in a foster child's life improves outcomes, including:
* Better overall health;
* Fewer depressive symptoms;
* Less stress;
* Reduced physical aggression;
* Reduced risk of suicide;
* Reduced risk of sexually transmitted infections;
* Increased educational attainment; and
* Greater satisfaction with life at age 18.(12)
Post-adoption services are important to sustained adoptions. Families indicate "support groups and informal contact with other similar families" as services critical to the success of their adoption.(13) We will strive to connect all adoptive families to peer-mentor networks and community services that help them to overcome the inevitable challenges of sustained adoption success -- reducing the percentage of children returning to foster care from 15% to 10%.
Through these efforts, we will equip families and foster youth with the support they need to successfully exit the foster care system and go on to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Secure a Federal Child Welfare Waiver for the State of Maryland
In February 2014, the State of Maryland will submit a proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, requesting greater autonomy in the use of the approximately $90 million in federal child welfare funds it receives. If granted, this Title IV-E waiver will take effect in fall of 2015 and will provide Maryland the flexibility to creatively invest funds in community-based services such as mentorship, substance abuse and mental health counseling, housing support, parenting classes and conflict intervention. These services will allow more families to remain together -- so long as it is safe for the child -- and reduce the number of youth entering and returning to the foster care system.
Examples of successful Title IV-E waivers include:
* California (Los Angeles County) -- In the first two and a half years of the waiver, Los Angeles County experienced a 23% decline in its foster care population, reducing the number of children in group homes and institutional settings by one-third.(14)
* Oregon -- Between 2005 and 2009, Oregon reduced its foster care population by 22% and currently focuses on parent mentoring, visitation programs and subsidized guardianship for non-relatives.(15)
Cost: Maryland's Title IV-E waiver will allow the State the flexibility to fund the programs outlined above, each tailored to meet the needs of local families.
2. Better Serve Youth by Establishing a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System
To meet our goal, we will execute best practices across the state beginning with formal training for child welfare workforce and community service providers on trauma-informed care delivery.
Trauma impacts every child and family who comes to the attention of social services. Children in the foster care system experience two types of trauma. The first is associated with the abuse, neglect or other circumstances that cause the child to be removed from their family; and the second is associated with the experience of being removed from the only home the child has ever known.(16)
A trauma-informed system approaches child welfare through a culture of traumatic stress awareness and with an aim to ensure that actions taken increase resilience and minimize additional stress to the child.(17)
Maryland's trauma-informed care system will incorporate best practices, including:
* Routine trauma-exposure screenings;
* Culturally-adapted evidence-based assessment and treatment for trauma;
* Providing resources for children, families, and providers on trauma exposure and treatment;
* Supports that strengthen the resilience of children and families impacted by trauma;
* Continuity of care and collaboration across child-service systems; and
* Engendering a culture of care among staff that addresses, minimizes, and treats secondary traumatic stress.(18)
Cost: We will fund this effort with existing resources, through flexibility achieved from the Title IV-E waiver discussed above.
3. Ensure Access to Transitional Housing for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
In order to meet our goal, we will dedicate funding to construct new housing and retrofit previously-utilized buildings -- including former group homes -- for young adults.
As noted, foster youth aging out of the system experience increased risks of homelessness(19). Nationally, between 12 and 30% of youth aging out of care struggle to find a permanent home.(20)
We will ensure that all foster youth leave the State's care with the supports and resources they need to become healthy, independent adults. We will look to innovative partnerships with non-profits, local and federal government to subsidize the creation of affordable homes for these young adults.
Restoration Gardens in the Park Heights neighborhood of Baltimore City is a prime example of a transitional residence for young adults struggling with homelessness(21). In addition to providing affordable housing for adults between 18 and 24 years old, this modern building serves as a site for ongoing case management, connecting youth to healthcare, education services, financial training and employment opportunities(22).
We will learn from and replicate successful programs like Restoration Gardens(23) to ensure that youth are supported as they age out of the foster care system.
Cost: We will dedicate $3,500,000 annually to fund new construction and renovation projects in partnership with the non-profit community and local governments to offer low-income young adults more housing options.
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