Action Center    Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

On October, 07 2008 the President signed into law the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008. The bill is a significant recognition of the contribution grandparents and other relatives make in raising the nation’s children.

NEW! Key Considerations for Implementing the Notice Requirement

This helpful new document outlines the components that are required by the Fostering Connections Act in order for a state or tribe to comply with the Notification of Relatives Provision of the law. The new guide was developed by the American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law, Generations United, and many other partners.

NEW! Legislative Guide for States is Available

Click here to view sample state legislation needed to implement the Federal Kinship Guardianship Assistance Option Under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.  This legislation outlines the components that are required by the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 in order for a state or tribe to operate a federally supported kinship guardianship assistance program under Section 101 of that law.

Family Connection Grants Announced

The Children's Bureau has announced the first 24 recipients of the Family Connection Grants. Congratulations to all the Family Connection grant award winners. Click here for all the award winners.

Highlights: The new grant program is expected to award 30 grants worth on average $450,000 for each 12-month period of a 36-month project to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include, "state, local, or tribal child welfare agencies, and private nonprofit organizations that have experience in working with foster children or children in kinship care arrangements."

The program will fund four program areas, including a dedicated amount of funding specifically for (1) Kinship Navigator Programs.  Other program areas include, (2) Intensive Family-Finding Efforts, (3) Family Group Decision Making, and (4) Residential Family Treatment Programs. 

NEW! Highlighting a new grantee- the California Kinship Navigator Program

On February 1, 2010, the California Kinship Support Network, a group of programs sponsored by the federal government for the state of California to support kinship caregivers, launched the California Kinship Navigator Program.  They have launched a new website that provides information regarding services for relative caregivers in each California county.  They also have a toll-free number, 1-800-KIN-0047, for adults seeking kinship support. This phone number connects caregivers with their own personal navigator, who provides direction to resources helpful in the raising of a child of a relative.  Navigators are available 10 hours a day Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm.  Services are determined on an individual basis and no appointments are necessary.

The full grant announcement from the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) can be viewed here:

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2009-ACF-ACYF-CF-0078.html

The bill will promote permanent families for children by providing: • Authorizes subsidized guardianship to enable children in the care of grandparents and other relatives to exit foster care into permanency • Establishes Kinship navigator programs to help link relative caregivers both inside and outside of the formal child welfare system to a broad range of services and supports that will help them meet the needs of the children in their care • Requires notice be given to adult relatives of a child if he or she is placed in foster care • Allows states in a demonstration program the option to set separate licensing standards for relative foster parents and non-relative foster parents The bill also supports children and families by:   • Extending direct Title IV-E funding to tribal governments • Reauthorizing  the Adoption Incentives Program, a critical tool in helping children become adopted. • Allowing states to receive federal reimbursement for support provided to foster youth up to age 21 • Requiring reasonable efforts to keep siblings together

Summaries of the New Law New Help for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives: Questions and Answers About the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 Click here to download PDF  Top 10 List for Relative Caregivers to Implement Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 Click here to download PDF  Implications for Relative Caregivers (Click here to download PDF) Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 long summary (Click here to download PDF) Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 1 page summary (Click here to download PDF) Text of Fostering Conecctions to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 - Public Law (Click here to download PDF)

Additional New Resources 

New Help for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives: Questions and Answers About the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 Click here to download PDF

This document is intended to help ensure full and prompt implementation of the improvements in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. It was prepared by an informal coalition of organizations, many of whom have been working individually and together for years to support children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. In this guide, the collaborating organizations have answered a number of questions posed to them by persons interested in implementing the new act. The Guide is intended to be useful to those charged with implementing the improvements for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives, as well as others who are advocating for the new improvements and assisting with implementation.

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