In September 2010, Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced H.R. 6156 to renew the authority of the Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to approve demonstration projects that will waive regulations of the Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance Program.  The projects are designed to demonstrate how innovative strategies can provide better outcomes for children.  The legislation will allow up to 10 states to conduct five-year demonstration projects.  While the legislation rapidly passed through the House, it has been stalled in the Senate.  Concerns have developed on the Senate side that pursuing an extension of waiver authority would diminish the push for expansive child welfare reform.  Over the summer, the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators met with congressional staff to introduce a comprehensive child welfare finance reform.  No formal introduction of the finance reform has made in the form of a bill this session, it is anticipated to get some leverage after the new Congress convenes in January 2011. 

About Kay Casey

Kay Casey has over 20 years of experience in federal and state child welfare policy and programs, having worked for the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Florida Department of Children and Families prior to joining PCG. She is responsible for the review and assessment of fiscal processing systems that impact a state’s ability to identify, document, and report expenditures for federal reporting purposes accompanied with the programmatic impact on the state’s system of care.

Read more