House Cuts to Foster Care Funding would Jeopardize Children Living with Grandparents and Other Relatives

Publication Date: December 2005

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Together, the foster care provisions in the House budget legislation would cut foster care funding to states by nearly $577 million over five years and $1.3 billion over ten years. Most of this money will come from reducing support to relatives caring for abused children who would otherwise end up in unrelated foster home s. States will be left scrambling to find money in their budgets to support relative placements, often the best home for children. Without fund ing for relative placements, children are more likely to be unnecessarily placed with strangers, reducing their chances of long-term stability and positive child outcomes. CLASP recommends that the Congress not include the House provisions in the final budget bill.