New Report Cites Montana Commission As Model for Addressing Foster Care Rates Nationally

New Report Cites Montana Commission As Model for Addressing Foster Care Rates Nationally
The Alliance for Children and Families today released the second in a series of three reports highlighting the crisis in foster care rates and the need to address them nationally.

Today’s report (see also our press release), which was welcomed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), cites Montana’s DPHHS Rate Commission as a model for other states. The commission has created increased transparency and promoted collaboration in the foster care rate-setting process.

This approach may produce better outcomes for children than legal action, which is being undertaken in many states, culminating most recently in a December 2009, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision (California Alliance v. Allenby), where the court ruled that federal law requires states to pay the full cost of care for children in foster care. This decision, which may affect foster care rates throughout the country, was the focus of the first report from the Alliance, released in late March.

“The Montana model for child welfare reimbursement creates positive results for our kids through open communication between policy-makers, child welfare caregivers and everyday people who use the services,” said Sen. Baucus in a prepared statement. “Providing lawmakers with more and better information is essential to helping them improve child welfare services and the successful Montana model is one that may benefit children in other states as well.”

The Alliance for Children and Families expects to release a third report in the weeks ahead that will review rate-setting processes in all 50 states.

Congress is expected to address foster care financing as part of TANF reauthorization over the next year. During that process, the Alliance for Children and Families will be advocating for national reforms that will promote foster care rates that better serve children and families throughout the country.

http://unca-acf.org/insider/?p=512