New Help for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives

Publication Date: January 2009

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Questions and Answers About the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (H.R. 6893) will help hundreds of thousands of children and youth in foster care by promoting permanent families for them through relative guardianship and adoption and improving education and health care. Additionally, it will extend federal support for youth to age 21. H.R. 6893 also will offer for the first time many American Indian children important federal protections and support. H.R. 6893 has bipartisan support and is fully paid for. This bill resolves differences between the House-passed Fostering Connections to Success Act (H.R.307) and the Senate Finance Committee-approved Chairman's Mark of S. 3038, the Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act. H.R. 6893 was unanimously passed by the House on suspension of the rules on September 17, 2008 and in the Senate by unanimous consent on September 22, 2008. The bill was signed by President Bush on October 7, 2008.