Bill seeks to increase foster care, mental health funding
Charlotte SunFeb 07, 2017
“We have never seen such an influx in mental health cases. We have to address this early in life and we have to invest and invest early,” said Shea, who’s headed the
“Every year I see big tax cuts, but that doesn’t help address the needs of the people,” she said.
In one of his first orders of business this year, Buchanan introduced the Family First Prevention Services Act (H.R. 253), to invest in funding to help children stay with families rather than being placed in foster care or a group home.
Not only is the nation’s drug problem forcing more kids into foster programs, but increasing the propensity they will turn to substance abuse once in the system, a
The measure, which is supported nationally by more than 500 child welfare organizations, was introduced a year ago, unanimously passing the House. The
A bipartisan effort cosponsored by Reps.
If passed in both chambers, the
While hoping to enhance funding to foster care, Buchanan’s bill would also offer aid to grandparents who are asked to care for grandchildren and provide family therapy to keep kids at home and not in the child welfare system.
Similar to the 2016 version, the measure, potentially, will create better access to Title IV-E entitlement funding for tested and approved mental health, substance use and in-home services, according to the document.
Rather than base eligibility just on income, officials would have to consider whether the child is at risk of foster care placement.
Of the scores of entities that back the measure, the
From infants to age 18, more than 250,000 children are removed from their homes by state child welfare officials and placed in either foster care or group homes each year, according to data provided by Buchanan. That figure was nearly 16,000 in 2014 in
Nationwide,
“You can’t be the seventh friendly tax state but be 49th overall in terms of mental health,” Shea said. Her not-for-profit organization works in
Shea said it’s a tough pill to swallow when the funding isn’t there to help someone in need.
“Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, you can’t criticize them. We are teaching them to be advocates for themselves,” said Shea, who advised Buchanan when drafting the bill.
The bill, introduced a month ago, has been referred to the
Email: jscholles@sun-herald.com