Newly Introduced Legislation Would Provide Nation’s Tribes With Equal Access to Federal Foster Care Funding
Portland - August 8, 2007
Last week, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced legislation that would allow Indian tribes equal access to federal foster care and adoption funds. The Tribal Foster Care and Adoption Act of 2007 would grant American Indian/Alaska Native tribes direct access to federal foster care funds to provide children and families in their care with needed supports and services.
Nearly 10,000 American Indian/Alaska Native children are in the nation’s foster care system today, frequently at disproportionately higher rates compared to non-Indian children.
The proposal would amend the Social Security Act to allow tribes to receive direct reimbursement for eligible costs related to foster care services, adoption assistance services, employee training and education, administrative costs related to case planning and case management, and establishment and operation of required data collection systems.
Current federal law requires that Indian tribes have agreements with the states in which they are located in order to be reimbursed for providing support and services for tribal children and families. According to Senator Baucus, “This bill provides tribes with the ability to serve their children directly with culturally appropriate care and understanding. It is only logical to put tribal adoption services on equal footing with the states.”
Terry Cross, Executive Director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA), commented that, “Tribal child welfare systems have long struggled to provide support to our nation’s most vulnerable children, while being denied direct access to funding that would improve outcomes and preserve families. This legislation may indeed be one of this year’s most important actions on behalf of this country’s Indigenous peoples.”
The Baucus bill is being co-sponsored by Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), John McCain (R-NM), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Carl Levin (D-MI).
About the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA)
NICWA is a national nonprofit and the most comprehensive source of information on American Indian child welfare and works on behalf of Indian children and families. NICWA provides public policy, research, advocacy, information, training and community development services to a broad national audience, state child welfare agencies, and other organizations, agencies and professionals interested in the field of Indian child welfare. For more information visit nicwa.org
About the Kids Are Waiting campaign
Kids Are Waiting: Fix Foster Care Now is a national, nonpartisan campaign dedicated to promoting foster care reform. Led by The Pew Charitable Trusts, an ever-growing number of local, state and national partners are working together so that our most vulnerable children don't spend their childhoods waiting in foster care for the families they deserve. For more information visit: kidsarewaiting.org or contact Gina Russo, 202-421-3578, mediaiq@comcast.net