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Wednesday, October 8, 2008
In this Week's Issue:
NATIONAL NEWS
President Signs Adoption Incentives Bill
On Tuesday, October 7th, the President signed the Fostering Connections to Success & Improved Adoptions Act (H.R. 6893) signifying the most significant reforms to child welfare policies since enactment of the Adoption & Safe Families Act in 1997. Thanks to all the advocates in the Greater Kansas City area who reached out to our Congressional Delegation! This is a great victory for children and families in Missouri and throughout the country.
Below is a list of the key components of this legislation:
Connecting and Supporting Relative Caregivers
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Provides federal reimbursement to States choosing to provide assistance to grandparents and other relatives who become legal guardians of children for whom they have cared as foster parents.
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Provides $15 million per year for Family Connection Grants to promote kinship navigator programs and other initiatives designed to connect and help relative caregivers.
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Requires relatives to be notified within 30 days of a child’s removal from their home.
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Codifies existing licensing standards for relatives becoming foster parents and requires report on impact and next steps.
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Allows the child welfare system to utilize the Parent Locator Service.
Improving Outcomes for Children in Foster Care
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At State option, allows federal foster care assistance to continue up to the age of 21 for youth engaged in school, work, or other constructive activities.
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Requires transitional plans for youth aging out of foster care.
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Expands enhanced federal funding for training to cover private child welfare workers and court personnel.
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Requires plan for the educational stability of every foster child and assurance of their school attendance.
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Requires improved oversight of the health care needs of every foster child, covering their assessment, treatment, medical records, and medication.
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Requires reasonable efforts to place siblings together when removed from their homes, or if not possible, to allow ongoing interaction.
Tribal Foster Care and Adoption Access
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Provides direct federal foster care and adoption assistance to tribal governments for children in their care.
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Provides $3 million per year to provide technical and start-up assistance to tribal foster care programs.
Improvement of Incentives for Adoption
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Extends, expands and improves the Adoption Incentives Program, which provides financial bonuses to States increasing the number of children adopted out of foster care.
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Provides federal adoption assistance to all special needs children (phased in on the basis of age and time in care), rather than only those children whose birth parents were eligible for welfare under the rules in place in 1996.
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Requires prospective adoptive parents of foster children to be informed of their potential eligibility for a current-law tax credit.
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Launch of America's Agenda: Health Care for Kids
A nonpartisan organization of labor and business leaders has launched a multi-million dollar campaign to persuade  Congress to extend the popular and effective State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to reach another 3 million low-income children. SCHIP currently covers more than 6.6 million children in the United States, but 9 million more kids still lack health care coverage.
To learn more about the Health Care for Kids campaign, go to: http://www.americasagenda-kidshealth.org/
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Obama vs. McCain on Children’s Healthcare
The Kaiser Family Foundation has posted an interactive tool that allows the user to compare the 2008 presidential candidates’ proposals and positions on a range of health care issues. The Kaiser Family Foundation, with the assistance of Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., used information compiled from the candidates' web sites, speeches and campaign debates. To check out Senator Obama’s and Senator McCain’s campaign positions on health care, including children’s health, go to: http://www.health08.org/healthissues_sidebyside.cfm
MISSOURI NEWS
Study Finds Health Care Premiums Rising Faster than Paychecks
According to a new report released by Families USA, over the past eight years (2000 to 2007) family health insurance premiums for Missouri workers rose 4.4 times more quickly than median earnings. On average, health care premiums for families rose by 76.1 percent, while median earnings rose by only 17.3 percent. Families USA concludes that as a result of rising health care costs and slow wage growth, Missourians are more at risk for joining the ranks of the uninsured or underinsured.
Among the key findings in the new report:
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For family health coverage in Missouri, the average annual premium (employer and worker share of premiums combined) rose from $6,731 to $11,852, an increase of $5,121 or 76.1%.
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Between 2000 and 2007, the median earnings of Missouri workers increased from $22,201 to $26,037 – an increase of $3,836 or 17.3 percent.
To read the full report, visit:
http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/premiums-vs-paychecks-2008/missouri.pdf
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MO Pre-K Panel Meets Final Time to Discuss Recommendations
The Missouri Panel on School Readiness: Focus on Pre-Kindergarten Education completed its fourth and final meeting yesterday, bringing together 32 individuals—including legislators, superintendents, state department officials, business leaders, child serving agencies, and early childhood educators—to discuss a framework for a voluntary, publicly-funded pre-k program in Missouri available to all children.
The panel agreed on 9 recommendations yesterday that will be finalized over the next month and a final report will be issued by December 1. Partnership for Children will report back when the finalized recommendations are available and open to the public. You can view information from previous meetings of the MO Pre-K Panel at http://www.moccrrn.org/.
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Attend Northland & EJC Candidate Forums on Children’s Issues in October
Some of the most important decisions our state legislators will make will be ensuring that Missouri children grow up safe, educated, and healthy. Do you know where your candidates stand on investing in Missouri’s future?
GKC Candidate Forums on Children’s Issues in October
Partnership for Children is hosting two candidate forums this election year to provide voters in the Northland and Eastern Jackson County the opportunity to hear from local state legislative candidates about their positions on children’s health, safety, and education policy issues. We encourage parents, educators, health care workers, child-serving agencies, and voters to attend!
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Northland Candidate Forum
Monday, October 13th
7:00 — 9:00 PM
North Kansas City Hospital - Prairie View Room
2800 Clay Edwards Dr.
North Kansas City, MO 64116
To RSVP for this free event, click here
Sponsored by: Partnership for Children, The Children’s Place, The Family Conservancy, Mother & Child Health Coalition, and Synergy Services
Download a printable flyer for the Northland Candidate Forum |
EJC Candidate Forum
Wednesday, October 22nd
7:00 — 9:00 PM
Woods Chapel United Methodist Church
4725 NE Lakewood Way, Lee's Summit, MO
To RSVP for this free event, click here
Sponsored by: Partnership for Children, The Family Conservancy, Midwest Foster Care & Adoption Association, Parents as Teachers National Center, and United Way of GKC
Download a printable flyer for the EJC Candidate Forum |
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Invited Candidates for Missouri House of Representatives: Rep. Jason Brown (R—HD 30), Mary Ann Baier (D—HD 30), Rep. Jason Grill (D—HD 32), Rep. Jerry Nolte (R—HD 33), Terry Stone (D—HD 33), Rep. Tim Flook (R—HD 34), Tom Niffen (D—HD 34), Rep. Doug Ervin (R—HD 35), Jim Baldwin (D-HD 35), Rep. Bob Nance (R—HD 36), and Barbara Lanning (D—HD 36)
Invited Candidates for Missouri Senate: Sen. Luann Ridgeway (R—SD 17) and Sandra Aust (D—SD 17) |
Invited Candidates for Missouri House of Representatives: Rep. Jeff Grisamore (R—HD47), Jason Norbury (D—HD47), Rep. Will Kraus (R—HD48), Joe Volpe (D—HD48), Rep. Elect Tom McDonald (D-HD49), Rep. Ray Salva (D-HD 51), Rep. Paul LeVota (D-HD 52), Gary Hisch (R-HD 52), Rep. Curt Dougherty (D-HD 53), Brent Lasater (R-HD 53), Rep. Gary Dusenberg (R-HD 54), Mark Matzeder (D-HD 54), Bobby Foster (L-HD 54), Rep. Bryan Pratt (R-HD 55), Mike O’Donnell (D-HD 55), Kevin Parr (L-HD 55), Rep. Brian Yates (R-HD 56), and Chris Ruggles (D-HD 56) |
For more information contact Carrie Shapton at Partnership for Children: shapton@pfc.org or 816-531-9200 x227
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Midwest Foster & Adoption Association Conference – Oct 14 & 15
Children placed in foster care or for adoption have many families. They and their families must negotiate a complex web of legal representatives, educators, and mental health or social service providers. This 2-day conference will bring together these parents and those working with them to learn from each other, to improve their collaboration, and to discover ways to better integrate their efforts.
Innovate! Integrate! Collaborate!
Service for Children and Their Many Families
Sponsored by UMKC College of Arts and Sciences and Social Work
October 14th & 15th, 7a-5p*
@ UMKC University Center
Kansas City, MO 64110
For more information about the conference or to register, visit: http://www.mfcaa.org/
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KANSAS NEWS
KAC Seeks Volunteers, Shoppers for Popular Junior League Events
This year, Kansas Action for Children has a unique volunteer opportunity that comes with the perfect perk - shopping! KAC is hosting a gift wrap station on Saturday, Oct. 25, during the Junior League of Kansas City's Holiday Mart in Overland Park. The gift wrap station provides an opportunity for Junior League friends and the public to learn more about KAC's work while supporting the work of the Junior League.
KAC is seeking volunteers to assist KAC staff at the gift wrap station. Volunteers who work one short shift will be offered a complimentary Holiday Mart shopping pass.
Volunteers are needed for the following shifts Oct. 25:
- 10 to 10:45 a.m. - two volunteers to help with set-up
- 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. - five volunteers to prepare gift bags
- 12:45 to 3 p.m. - seven volunteers to prepare gift bags
- 2:45 to 5 p.m. - seven volunteers to prepare gift bags
KAC will also host gift wrap stations at the Junior League of Wichita's Holiday Galleria and at the Junior League of Topeka's Merry Market. As part of our participation with these events, KAC is offering complimentary shopping passes for these two events available to KAC friends and supporters on a first come, first served basis.
For more information on how to volunteer at the Overland Park shopping event, or to request complimentary tickets for either the Wichita or Topeka shopping events, contact Allison Abplanalp at Allison@kac.org
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IN THE NEWS: Media Coverage of Children's Issues
Report finds increased funding for Kansas pre-kindergarten programs
Last year, Kansas was near the bottom of all 50 states when it came to state-funded pre-kindergarten education, according to a recent national study. Read the full story >>
Kansas ranks low in pre-k access
Kansas ranks at the bottom of the nation in offering high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, according to a report released today. Read the full story >>
Preschool program is reaching more military families at FLW
Responding to reports of serious problems caused in family life by repeated deployments, the Department of Defense has expanded a Missouri early childhood program to a dozen military installations and could expand it much further. Read the full story >>
Committee looks at revamping child care regulations
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is updating its child care licensing and safety regulations for the first time since 1991. The updating process should be complete in early to late fall 2009. Read the full story >>
Sincerely,
Emily Smith & Carrie Shapton
Partnership for Children
infopfc@pfc.org
816-531-9200
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