FosterClub public response to CYC

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Hello, California young leaders and advocates – Earlier this month, our colleagues at California Youth Connection (CYC) submitted a letter to Senator Barbara Boxer, who has placed a hold on the Family First Prevention Services Act (S. 3065/H.R. 5456). We at FosterClub admire the work of CYC, but we think they have it wrong on the Family First Act. Below, we provide a response to CYC’s rationale for not supporting Family First. This document is long, but federal child welfare policy and the Family First Act are complicated. We think it’s worth taking the time to fundamentally understand what’s at stake. This is particularly important for California young leaders because currently Senator Boxer of California is one of only three Senators currently holding Family First from moving forward. Once you review this document, if you would like more information about how the Family First Act would benefit youth affected by foster care, check out a recording of our webinar (https://www.fosterclub.com/article/sign-­‐support-­‐family-­‐first-­‐prevention-­‐services-­‐act). Best, George White Celeste Bodner Policy Specialist (and California alumni) Executive Director Note: you can review CYC’s letter here: (http://tinyurl.com/hazozxk). The objections below are drawn directly from CYC’s letter. Objection #1: An overly narrow set of prevention services that focuses on the needs of the parent that the child is being removed from while failing to provide any meaningful support for the relatives who the youth is likely to be living with during attempted rehabilitation. It is true the set of prevention services offered through the Family First Prevention Services Act are fairly narrow. However, the passage of this bill would provide for a continuation of the prevention services that California is already offering under the IV-­‐E Waiver Program. The Waiver is set to expire in 2019, so if this legislation is not passed, California will take steps backwards and may lose some of the prevention services now in place. Further, most states lack the extensive prevention services California offers to families in crisis. This means that a child in another state is much more likely to be taken into foster care rather than receive the services that might allow them to stay with their family while a parent receives mental health or substance abuse services. We’ve heard from our young people that entering foster care can be highly traumatic, and if that experience can safely be avoided, it should. Regarding meaningful support for relative caregivers: the Family First Act does nothing to change the level of support that is available for relative caregivers. It would stay the same as it is currently.

HQ: 753 First Ave. Seaside, OR 97138 ph: 503-717-1552 fax: 503-717-1702 web: fosterclub.org ein: 931287234 CFC: 76187


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