S. 661 would establish kinship navigator programs and establish guardianship assistance payments for children.
Detailed Summary
Kinship Caregiver Support Act - Authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants for kinship navigator programs to state agencies, metropolitan agencies, or tribal organizations with experience in addressing needs of kinship caregivers or children and connecting them with services and assistance.
Amends part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to authorize all states to opt to enter agreements to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of children to grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship of children for whom they have cared as foster parents and have committed to care for on a permanent basis. Allows states to use part E funds to make such payments under specified conditions.
Provides that adoptive parents of children with special needs remain eligible for adoption assistance, even if they receive kinship guardianship assistance.
Authorizes kinship guardianship demonstration projects.
Requires states to: (1) notify all adult grandparents and other adult relatives (with exceptions due to family or domestic violence) when a child is removed from custody of a parent or parents; and (2) explain the options the relative has to participate in the child's care and placement.
Allows state agencies to establish separate standards for foster family homes in which a foster parent is a relative of the foster child.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 2/16/2007: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
"What Do You Do? from Memphis TN.
It is amazing the world we live in today. The amount of money spent on helping other countries and the little money spent on our furture does not compare. Here I sit in a financial crunch: single mother of two and my three nieces that I have custody of. The TN Child Protective Services and the Department of Human Services have been of little help and demonstrates an “I don’t care attitude.” Relatives should not have to worry about finances when they have the well being of that child to worry about for the rest of their lives. Just to define where your money goes: home, counseling, transportation, school/college, school activities, tutoring, clothing, toiletries and food. Times this by 5 in my life. The bill should definetly be past, just in case my statements were unclear.
Larry Kronen
I think this is a first step, but the act as written does not cover the majority of caregivers who are caring for children who have never been in the foster care system. They should be able to get a subsidy also
Deb from CT
I agree with Mr. Kronen. Don't get me wrong. I'm greatful for fosterparents. But we (grandparents) don't get help -- such as all mentioned above from Memphis,TN -- not to mention the cost of daycare for those of us who have to work. Please -- everyone -- support this bill S.661/H.R.2188)