Congressional Caucus Round-Up

Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Introduce Legislation To Develop And Enhance Kinship Navigator Programs

WASHINGTON – Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Congressman Tom Marino (R-Penn.), Co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, introduced legislation to provide grants to states, tribes (including tribal consortia), territories or communitybased organizations to develop, enhance, and evaluate Kinship Navigator programs. Kinship Navigator programs support family caregivers through complex legal and administrative systems, help avert crises, prevent multiple child placements, and avoid the need for more costly services.

“With the rise of substance abuse highlighted by the opioid epidemic, more and more kinship caregivers are stepping up to raise children in need of temporary care or permanent homes,” said Rep. Bass. “This is happening in every state and every county in the United States. While we work to address this immediate epidemic, our child welfare systems are being overwhelmed. Kinship caregivers need support and this bill will help provide the assistance necessary to creating a stable home and environment for the child. I hope Congress can come together on this bipartisan issue to stand up for our kinship caregivers and our nation’s most vulnerable youth.”

“Every child deserves to grow up in a healthy, safe, and loving home,” said Congressman Marino. “We know that when children grow up in stable households, they are much more likely to succeed as adults. This legislation will help ensure that every foster child has the opportunity to pursue their dreams, start great careers, and raise loving families of their own.”

The bill will allow community-based organizations to apply directly to the Department of Health and Human Services for funding and also require program evaluations that include community perspectives. You can read the full bill here.

Why Kinship Care Matters:

Research demonstrates that children in kinship care are less likely to experience numerous different placements with different families. Kinship care results in better outcomes for all children living in out-of-home care because they are more likely to remain in their same neighborhood, in the same educational setting, be placed with siblings, and have consistent contact with their birth parents than other children in foster care. This is one critical piece in improving outcomes for the children in the child welfare system.

Legislation To Ensure Former Foster Youth Can Keep Health Insurance Heads To President’s Desk

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives sent a package of measures to address the opioid epidemic to the White House, which included legislation drafted by Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, to address a misinterpretation of the Affordable Care Act by providing foster youth with the same health insurance benefits as their peers.

“I’m sure the parents in Congress all would agree that health care for our children is not optional,” said Rep. Bass. “The congressional record is clear that Medicaid was supposed to cover all young adults who were in foster care at age 18, even if they move to a different state. But unfortunately, the language in the bill itself, wasn’t as clear. I hope the President signs this piece of legislation to clarify the original intent.”

The current health insurance system is one of the many challenges that disproportionately affect our nation’s foster youth. The intent of the Affordable Care Act was to make sure that foster youth who are in care by their 18th birthday and previously enrolled in Medicaid, would receive healthcare until the age of 26, much like their peers who can remain on their parents’ insurance plans until that age. However, after several years of requested clarification, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services misinterpreted the provision and restricted foster youth from receiving health insurance if they move out of their state. The signing of this bill would correct the misinterpretation.