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General child welfare-related legislation in the U.S. Congress - Child Welfare Policy

General child welfare-related legislation in the U.S. Congress - Child Welfare Policy


Last update: 8-5-2011 (updates in BOLD)

This is a list of current child welfare-related bills in the U.S. Congress. Although I attempted to ensure that it is an exhaustive list, I may have missed one or more. If you know of a child welfare-related bill that is not in this list, please let me know! Also, please feel free to put your insight into these bills in a comment below.

**Please note that I have EXCLUDED the adoption- and foster care-related bills mentioned in the previous two posts.**

Senate Bill Status Next Steps

A resolution designating September 2011 as "National Child Awareness Month" (S. Res. 231) to promote awareness of charities benefitting children and youth-serving organizations throughout the United States and recognizing efforts made by those charities and organizations on behalf of children and youth as critical contributions to the future of the United States. 7-11-11: Agreed to Resolution now takes effect

Violence Against Children Act of 2011 (S. 175)
A bill to provide enhanced Federal enforcement and assistance in preventing and prosecuting crimes of violence against children. 1-25-11: Referred to Committee on the Judiciary. Committee must review/vote

Child Protection Compact Act of 2011 (S. 185)
A bill to provide United States assistance for the purpose of eradicating severe forms of trafficking in children in eligible countries through the implementation of Child Protection Compacts, and for other purposes. 1-25-11: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations. Committee must review/vote

International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2011 (S. 414)
A bill to protect girls in developing countries through the prevention of child marriage, and for other purposes. 2-17-11: Referred to Committee on Foreign Relations. Committee must review/vote

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2011 (S. 596)
Related legislation: H.R. 1981: Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act of 2011 and S. 671: Finding Fugitive Sex Offenders Act of 2011
A bill to establish a grant program to benefit victims of sex trafficking, and for other purposes. 3-16-11: Referred to Committee on the Judiciary. Committee must review/vote
Children's Budget Act (S. 1396)

House equivalent: H.R. 1602: Children's Budget Act
A bill to amend title 31 of the United States Code to require that Federal children's programs be separately displayed and analyzed in the President's budget. 7-21-11: Referred to Committee on the Budget. Committee must review/vote

A bill to provide incentives for States to improve the well-being of children in the child welfare system (S. 1509) through systemic reforms and innovations, increased collaboration between State agencies, and incorporation of higher standards of accountability. 8-2-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Committee must review/vote

House Bill

Infant Protection and Baby Switching Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 222)
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require hospitals reimbursed under the Medicare system to establish and implement security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching, including procedures for identifying all infant patients in the hospital in a manner that ensures that it will be evident if infants are missing from the hospital. 2-1-11: House Energy & Commerce: Referred to Subcommittee on Health. Committee must review/vote

To provide discretionary authority to an immigration judge (H.R. 250) to determine that an alien parent of a United States citizen child should not be ordered removed, deported, or excluded from the United States. 2-7-11: House Committee on the Judiciary: Referred to Subcommittee on Immigration Policy & Enforcement. Committee must review/vote

Children's Budget Act (H.R. 1602)
Senate equivalent: S. 1396: Children's Budget Act
To amend title 31 of the United States Code to require that Federal children's programs be separately displayed and analyzed in the President's budget. 4-15-11: Referred to House Committee on the Budget. Committee must review/vote

International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2011 (H.R. 1940)
To ensure compliance with the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction by countries with which the United States enjoys reciprocal obligations, to establish procedures for the prompt return of children abducted to other countries, and for other purposes. 7-29-11: House Financial Services: Referred to Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade Committee must review/vote

Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act (H.R. 2235)
To provide for enhanced protections for vulnerable unaccompanied alien children and female detainees. 6-23-11: House Homeland Security: Referred to Subcommittee on Border & Maritime Security. Committee must review/vote

Balancing Act of 2011 (H.R. 2346)
Related bills: H.R. 1440: Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2011; H.R. 1876: Healthy Families Act; S. 984: Healthy Families Act; and H.R. 555: Universal Prekindergarten Act
To improve the lives of working families by providing family and medical need assistance, child care assistance, in-school and afterschool assistance, family care assistance, and encouraging the establishment of family-friendly workplaces. 6-30-11: House Oversight & Government Reform: Referred to Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service, & Labor Policy . Committee must review/vote

Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2011 (H.R. 2730)
To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to better enable State child welfare agencies to prevent human trafficking of children and serve the needs of children who are victims of human trafficking, and for other purposes. 8-1-11: Referred to House Committee on Ways & Means. Committee must review/vote

Parental Consent Act of 2011 (H.R. 2769)
To prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program. Would require that an educational agency not use parent's refusal to consent as basis of a charge of child abuse or neglect on penalty of discontinuation of federal education funds (until agency proves it no longer uses refusal as basis of abuse/neglect. 8-1-11: Referred to House Education & the Workforce Committee must review/vote

Child and Family Services Extension and Enhancement Act (H.R. 2790)
To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend the child and family services program through fiscal year 2016 (with some modifications related to child development concerns), and for other purposes; includes authorization for study on recruitment and retention of foster/adoptive/kin parents and caregivers. 8-2-11: Referred to House Committee on Ways & Means. Committee must review/vote

Revisions clarify law on false claims of child abuse

Revisions clarify law on false claims of child abuse | MailTribune.com

Local experts played a key role in rewriting a bill introduced by State Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, which originally was viewed with alarm by those who work to protect children.

The bill, recently signed into law and designed to discourage punitive or vindictive reporting of child abuse, underwent significant changes as it made its way to the governor's desk. The changes were necessary to protect children and to assure the public that reporting suspected abuse is not only the right thing to do, it is safe for them to do so, experts say.

Head Butts For CPS Agents - The Baby LK Report For August 7th 2011

HB 1680 - 2011-12 Washington state

HB 1680 - 2011-12: "Concerning child abuse investigations and proceedings."

HB 1680 - 2011-12 (What is this?)

Concerning child abuse investigations and proceedings.

Go to documents...

History of Bill
as of Sunday, August 7, 2011 6:03 PM

Sponsors: Representatives Eddy, Anderson, Carlyle, Morris, Kagi, Takko, Maxwell, Clibborn

2011 REGULAR SESSION
Jan 28 First reading, referred to Judiciary. (View Original Bill)
Feb 9 Public hearing in the House Committee on Judiciary at 8:00 AM. (Committee Materials)
Feb 17 Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Judiciary at 10:00 AM. (Committee Materials)
2011 1ST SPECIAL SESSION
Apr 26 By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

Go to history...

Available Documents
Bill Documents Bill Digests Bill Reports
Original Bill
Bill Digest
House Bill Analysis 2011



Fiscal Note (Available)
Get Fiscal Note

National Study of Protective, Preventive and Reunification Services Delivered to Children and Their Families - Table of Contents

National Study of Protective, Preventive and Reunification Services Delivered to Children and Their Families - Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1 Child Welfare Services Before 1980
1.2 Purpose and Provisions of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-272)
1.3 Child Welfare Services After 1980
1.4 Trends in State and Local Child Welfare Service Delivery

1.4.1 Development of Family Preservation and Home-Based Service Programs
1.4.2 Movement Towards Culturally-Appropriate Casework
1.4.3 Expansion and Formalization of Kinship Foster Care Arrangements

1.5 Summary

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1 Study Design
2.2 Sample Design

3. PROFILE OF THE 1994 CHILD WELFARE POPULATION USING POINT IN TIME DATA

3.1 Characteristics of Children and Their Primary Caretakers
3.2 Case History Characteristics
3.3 Presenting Problems and Services Received
3.4 Summary

4. COMPARISON BETWEEN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVED IN 1977 AND 1994 USING POINT IN TIME DATA

4.1 General Characteristics of Children and Families Served in the Child Welfare System
4.2 Characteristics of Children at the Time of Entry into the Child Welfare System
4.3 Characteristics of Children's Service Experience
4.4 Summary

5. FACTORS RELATED TO THE LENGTH OF TIME CASES RECEIVED SERVICES

5.1 Case Flow
5.2 Characteristics Related to Length of Time Cases are Served

5.2.1 Child Demographic and Case History Characteristics
5.2.2 Household Characteristics
5.2.3 Caretaker and Child Problems
5.2.4 Services Offered by Caseworkers

5.3 Summary

6. EXAMINATION OF CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO RECEIPT OF IN-HOME SERVICES VERSUS FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT

6.1 Child, Household, and Case History Characteristics

6.1.1 Demographic Characteristics
6.1.2 Household Characteristics
6.1.3 Case History Characteristics
6.1.4 Child and Family Problems
6.2 Services Offered and Provided to Children and Primary Caretakers
6.3 Kinship Foster Care Placement
6.4 Summary

7. RACE/ETHNICITY AS A FACTOR IN SERVICE DELIVERY AND CHILD OUTCOMES

7.1 Child, Household, and Case History Characteristics

7.1.1 Demographic Characteristics
7.1.2 Household Characteristics
7.1.3 Case History Characteristics
7.2 Child and Household Problems
7.3 Services Offered and Provided to Children and Primary Caretakers with Problems
7.4 Racial Differences in Foster Care Placement
7.5 Summary

8. CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

LIST OF APPENDICES

Annual Data Frequencies

Table 1. Percentage distribution of children by selected characteristics

Table 2. Percentage distribution of children by selected household characteristics

Table 3.Percentage distribution of children by selected case history characteristics

Table 4. Percentage distribution of children by selected problems

LIST OF TABLES

3-1 Children's living arrangements

3-2 Disabling and health conditions of children

3-3 Child's relationship to primary caretaker

3-4 Age of primary caretaker

3-5 Primary caretaker's educational attainment

3-6 Employment status of primary caretakers and their partner/spouse and enrollment status in government programs

3-7 Documented number of abuse or neglect allegations

3-8 Types of documented substantiated maltreatment

3-9 Presenting problems of children

3-10 Presenting problems of primary caretakers

3-11 Household housing or neighborhood problems

3-12 Services that children and families received directly from caseworker

3-13 Services provided to children

3-14 Services provided to primary caretakers

3-15 Reasons why agencies did not provide service(s) to children and primary caretakers

4-1 Children receiving in-home services versus out-of-home services on April 1, 1977 and March 1, 1994 by race/ethnicity

4-2 The age children entered the child welfare system for cases open on April 1, 1977 and March 1, 1994 by race/ethnicity

4-3 The source of referrals to child welfare agencies for cases open April 1977 versus March 1994

4-4 Age entered foster care for cases open on April 1, 1977 and March 1, 1994 by race/ethnicity

4-5 The number of caseworkers assigned to children in 1977 and 1994

5-1 The number of cases entering and exiting the child welfare system over a one-year period

5-2 Length of time children in admission cohort were served: in-home services versus foster care placement

5-3 Duration groups for children in the child welfare system

5-4 Duration group by children's demographic characteristics

5-5 Duration group by children's case characteristics

5-6 Duration group by children's household characteristics

5-7 Duration group by caretakers' problems

5-8 Duration group by children's problems

5-9 Duration group by services provided by caseworkers to children and their families

5-10 Duration group by selective diagnostic or preventive services offered to children and their families

6-1 Children who received in-home services versus children placed in foster care

6-2 Length of time between case opening and child's placement into foster care

6-3 In-home services versus foster care placement by children's household characteristics

6-4 In-home services versus foster care placement by children's case history characteristics

6-5 In-home services versus foster care placement by selected problems

6-6 In-home services versus foster care placement by children who were offered health screenings and psychological assessments

6-7 Children in kinship foster care versus other foster care placements, by number of foster care placement settings

6-8 Children in kinship foster care versus other types of foster care placement, by number of foster care episodes

7-1 Selected household characteristics by race/ethnicity for children in the child welfare system

7-2 Selected case history characteristics by race/ethnicity

7-3 Selected problems by race/ethnicity

7-4 Type of placement and race/ethnicity by selected characteristics



LIST OF FIGURES

3-1 Children's age on March 1, 1994

3-2 Race/ethnicity of children in 1994 National Study and 1994 U.S. Population

3-3 Substance abuse treatment for primary caretakers with substance abuse problems

3-4 Parenting services for primary caretakers with inadequate parenting skills

3-5 Mental health services for primary caretakers with mental health problems

3-6 Educational services for primary caretakers not having a high school diploma

3-7 Housing services for caretakers who are homeless or experiencing a housing problem

4-1 Children served on April 1, 1977, and on March 1, 1994

4-2 Children receiving services by race/ethnicity in 1977 and 1994

4-3 Sources of income in 1977 and 1994

4-4 Age at entry into the child welfare system for children in the system on April 1, 1977 and March 1, 1994

4-5 Median length of time cases had been open in the child welfare system for all children and for children by race/ethnicity who were in the system on April 1, 1977 and March 1, 1994

4-6 Age entered foster care for cases open on April 1, 1977 and March 1, 1994

4-7 Median length of stay in foster care for all children and for children by race/ethnicity who were in care on April 1, 1977 and March 1, 1994

4-8 Living arrangements of children in foster care on April 1, 1977 and March 1, 1994

5-1 Children's length of stay in the child welfare system

5-2 Duration group by urbanicity

6-1 In-home services versus foster care placement by children's race/ethnicity

6-2 Racial/ethnic distribution of children in foster care placement

6-3 In-home services versus foster care placement by age children entered the child welfare system

6-4 In-home services versus foster care placement for caretakers with substance abuse problems by substance abuse services offered and provided

6-5 In-home services versus foster care placement for families with housing problems by housing services offered and provided

6-6 Children in placement by race/ethnicity

7-1 Racial/ethnic distribution of children served by the child welfare system during a one-year period (March 1, 1993-February 28, 1994)

7-2 Age at entry into the child welfare system by race/ethnicity

7-3 Age entered foster care by race/ethnicity

7-4 Caretakers with substance abuse problems who were offered substance abuse services by race/ethnicity

7-5 Caretakers with parenting problems who were offered parenting services by race/ethnicity

7-6 Families with housing problems who were offered housing services by race/ethnicity

7-7 Caretakers with mental health problems who were offered mental health services by race/ethnicity

7-8 Mean length of time in foster care

Goal Of DCF's Katz: Get Troubled Children Back Home, Back Into Community

Goal Of DCF's Katz: Get Troubled Children Back Home, Back Into Community - Hartford Courant

The state Department of Children and Families, long under pressure to improve its treatment system for young people, announced last week that it wants to get many of the 1,400 children now in residential facilities back to their families or into foster care.

Commissioner Joette Katz said the effort, which includes stopping the flow of troubled children to out-of-state facilities and developing in-home and neighborhood-based services, will cause some pain during the transition and require a radical shift in the way the agency has operated in the past 20 years.

For example, she said, a some counseling services, psychiatric treatment and other programs now at residential centers would be moved to in-home settings, or to walk-in family clinics. The DCF also might have foster families, instead of private agencies, run group homes with five or six children — at a third of the current rate of $500-per day per-child.

Note: And I thought three hundred dollar's a day per child was bad at the Childrens Home in New Hampshire!
Well at least Connecticut is trying, which is more than I can say for NH!