Public Policy Update: June 2011 

• US House Responds to CASA Advocates’ Request for Funding
• Several Hurdles Still Loom for FY 2012 Appropriations
• Congress Finalizes FY 2011
• Legislation to Provide Greater Flexibility with Child Welfare Funds
• Working to Prevent Homelessness Among Foster Youth
• Foster Care Mentoring Act Reintroduced
• National CASA Public Policy Committee Approves Policy Agenda

US House Responds to CASA Advocates’ Request for Funding

Hundreds of CASA/GAL advocates contacted their members of the US House of Representatives in late May, requesting they sign on to a letter urging members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce - Justice to fund the CASA program at $15 million for FY 2012. The letter was submitted to the subcommittee by the May 18 deadline with a total of 38 House members voicing their support. While the House set a late May deadline to submit the member requests for funding, the subcommittee will not take up consideration of appropriations for FY 2012 until early July.

A great round of thanks is extended to the hundreds of advocates who contacted their representative. The congressional staff person that coordinated the appropriations letter remarked that our advocacy effort was excellent. She said that many House offices said that they received “tons” of calls requesting that their congress member sign on to the letter. Because the letter was signed by so many legislators, it will receive serious consideration by the subcommittee.

We owe deep appreciation to Reps. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA) and Geoff Davis (R-KY), for sponsoring and coordinating the letter of support.

Read the letter.

This letter is one of three major actions that National CASA has taken to secure $15 million for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. In early March, 20 representatives of our CASA/GAL network, including members of the Public Policy and Education Committee, conducted 75 congressional appointments. This was the largest targeted effort ever. In addition, nearly 600 participants at the National CASA Conference in March signed on to a letter of support, which was sent to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate appropriations subcommittees.

Several Hurdles Still Loom for FY 2012 Appropriations

Congress is already several months behind on dealing with funding for the next federal fiscal year. Typically, Congress delivers a joint budget agreement by April 15, so that each appropriations committee can begin deliberations. Not so this year. Congress intends to first reach agreement on extension of the debt ceiling, with a plan to reduce long term deficit spending. Once that is accomplished, then the FY 2012 budget will be considered, and the appropriations committees can take up their work. The House expects to deliberate appropriations measures in July, and to complete appropriations measures by the deadline of September 30.

First Focus, a national child advocacy organization, has released results of a national poll that demonstrates strong public support for protecting funding of children’s programs in the upcoming budget debates. First Focus reports that proposed cuts to programs affecting kids are every bit as unpopular as cuts affecting seniors. A full 70 percent oppose the $750 billion Medicaid cut proposed by the House Budget Committee, and 73 percent further oppose cuts in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The survey also indicates voters are not willing to trade cuts impacting one group over another, such as seniors. Voters recognize there is an option on the revenue side, and prefer raising taxes on the wealthy and eliminating loopholes and federal subsidies to corporations. 

Congress Finalizes FY 2011

On April 15, Congress finally wrapped up debate on federal funding for FY 2011 (i.e., October 1, 2010–September 30, 2011). The agreement came a full six and a half months into the fiscal year, and after six previous continuing resolutions that allowed for short-term funding. Congress continually whittled away at discretionary programs in each of the resolutions, attempting to substantially reduce federal expenditures.

Discretionary funding for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the agency that administers the CASA program, was reduced 17.2%. As a result, OJJDP has offset this reduction by reducing the awards to each of its authorized grantees. OJJDP has decreased the amount available for the CASA program to $12,100,000, a reduction of 18.5%. Because Congress took so long to settle FY 2011 appropriations, the availability of funding for subgrantees (scheduled to begin July 1) will be delayed. All applicants for subgrants have been notified of the delay. National CASA will keep applicants advised as more information becomes available about award dates.

Legislation to Provide Greater Flexibility with Child Welfare Funds

For several years, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee have considered strategies to allow greater flexibility in the way that state child welfare agencies utilize federal funding. On May 31, the House of Representatives approved legislation introduced by Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee chairman Geoff Davis (R-KY) and ranking member Jim McDermott (D-WA)  to give greater discretion to the US Department of Health and Human Services in child welfare financing. H.R. 1194 would allow states to test alternative ways to achieve child welfare goals. In the past, several states have been granted waivers to test improved policies such as subsidized guardianship, adoption and post-permanency services, and intensive services. Chairman Davis stated: “I am pleased to join in introducing this bipartisan legislation. It passed the House unanimously last year, and recently the Senate Finance Committee conducted a hearing that offered broad support for the idea of extending child welfare waiver authority, as this bill would do. The child welfare waiver programs tried to date have proven effective. Allowing more States to test such successful approaches will pave the way for broader–and needed–national reforms.”

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and ranking member Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced similar legislation on May 15. The State Child Welfare Innovation Act, S. 1013, identifies policies that states can undertake using waivers. These policies can include a child welfare bill of rights; congregate care; sibling placements, family-based services; and addressing health and mental health needs of children in care. Senators Rockefeller (D-WV) and Enzi (R-WY) also joined as original sponsors of the legislation.

To read the text of both bills, go to thomas.loc.gov and search for "HR 1194" and "State Child Welfare Innovation Act."

Working to Prevent Homelessness Among Foster Youth

Senator John Kerry (D-MA), joined by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Mark Begich (D-AK) have sponsored the Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act, S. 961. Senator Kerry has said that the “legislation will help ensure that regardless of where in the country a foster child lives, they will not face the prospect of becoming a homeless teenager by allowing them to remain in care until their 21^st birthday and improving permanency planning.” One important provision is a requirement that states have laws and procedures to ensure that a child is not placed in foster care solely because the child’s famiy is homeless, or living in substandard housing. States would be required to work with the family and state housing authorities to arrange permanent housing for any family with a minor child that is either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Among several other provisions, the legislation includes a demonstration program to improve family relationships and reduce homelessness among youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. To also supports states to work together to address barriers that prohibit cooperation across state lines for placing foster children in loving homes outside their state of residence. The legislation was introduced on May 12, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. No committee action has been scheduled.

To read the bill text, go to thomas.loc.gov and search for "Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act, S. 961."

Foster Care Mentoring Act Reintroduced

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) has reintroduced the Foster Care Mentoring Act, S. 420, joined by Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Tim Johnson (D-SD). Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA). These bills recognize “the enormous role that adult mentors can play in helping foster youth reach their academic and personal potential,” according to Senator Landrieu. The legislation establishes a $15 million grant program to create statewide foster care mentoring programs, and allows federal student loan forgiveness for those who volunteer to mentor a child in care. The Senate bill has been referred to the Finance Committee, and the House bill to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce. No committee action has been scheduled, which has been the fate of the legislation introduced by Senator Landrieu in two previous Congresses. 

To read the bill text, go to thomas.loc.gov and search for "Foster Care Mentoring Act, S. 420."

National CASA Public Policy Committee Approves Policy Agenda

National CASA’s Public Policy Committee has adopted the following policy agenda for approval by the full board of trustees at its meeting in June.

The National CASA Association encourages Congress to:

• Sustain FY 2012 funding of at least $15 million for the CASA program which is authorized in the Violence Against Women Act (PL 109 – 271).   
• Reauthorize the CASA program at $30 million for FY 2012 – 2016.  
• Extend GAL advocacy to children in tribal court dependency proceedings.  
• Enact Foster Care Financing reform to support children and promote permanency.
  • Allow IV – E flexibility for prevention of child abuse, including home visitation
  • Expand eligibility for foster care and adoption assistance to all children in out of home care
  • Extend IV – E to support CASA advocacy for children in the court system because of abuse or neglect.
• Assure states have a process to determine eligibility of children who have been abused or neglected to become legal permanent residents under the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) provisions of existing immigration law.  
• Provide children in foster care with school stability and equal access to educational opportunities. 
• Reauthorize judicial training for child abuse and neglect courts. 
• Reauthorize the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Act, and the Court Improvement Act.
  • Funding for substance abuse should be extended to provide treatment beyond methamphetamine to all significant substance abuse problems.
  • Adoption support should include funding for post-adoption services.
  • Strengthen support for court, child welfare, and community-based efforts that promote the safety and well-being of children and families, including the training and assignment of CASA volunteers. 
• Establish a National Resource Center for Foster Children, as a resource for children in care to learn about resources that may be available to them, as well as their rights.
• Enact legislation which protects the financial security of youth in care before youth leave care so they are not victimized by credit card or social security fraud.
• Strengthen Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) to support the most vulnerable families, and to provide greater support to children in the child welfare system, especially by families.
• Establish a program of adult mentors for youth in care, so that they have positive role models.

National CASA Public Policy and Education Committee
Approved March 1, 2011 

National CASA Board of Trustees
Approval Pending