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Action Center  Kinship Caregiver Support Act |
Member Path
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On February 16, 2007, Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced the Kinship Caregiver Support Act (S.661) in the Senate, and Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Timothy Johnson (R-IL) introduced a companion bill (H.R. 2188) in the House. These bipartisan bills would help grandparents and other relatives raising children and allow thousands of children to leave foster care quickly and safely by giving states the option to use federal funds for subsidized guardianship payments. They include the following important provisions:
- Creates a competitive grant process for states to create kinship navigator support programs that will help connect relative caregivers to programs and services that will help them meet the needs of the children in their care
- Provides federal assistance to states for subsidized guardianship payments to help children exit foster care to permanent homes with relatives
- Requires that grandparents and other adult relatives be notified within 60 days of a child being removed from the custody of his/her parent(s)
- Allows states to have separate licensing standards for relative and non-relative foster parents, provided both standards protect children and include criminal record checks.
- Expands eligibility for independent living services and education and training vouchers (ETV) under the Chafee Educational and Training Voucher Program for children leaving foster care to live with relative guardians.
Status
There are currently 87 cosponsors in the House and 31 co-sponsors in the Senate. Provisions of the bills have been included in other child welfare legislation under consideration in Congress.
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