Comprehensive Services for At-Risk Youth and Families (200)
Request Title
Savings from expanding foster care services to 18-21
Biennium
2014-2016
Budget Round
Initial Bill
Half Sheet Number
279#1s
Description
This amendment reduces $1.4 million GF the second year, reflecting a revised estimate of the number of foster care children that will gain eligibility for coverage through the federal Fostering Connections Act and therefore transfer from CSA to the Title IV-E foster care program funded through the Department of Social Services. The introduced budget includes an initiative to expand access to foster care and adoption subsidies for youth who currently age out at 18. The initial estimate of $2.9 million in GF savings assumed that 51 percent of foster care children funded through CSA would transfer to DSS. The revised estimate assumes 75 percent of foster care children will be transferred, consistent with findings from national consultants who have examined implementation of this issue in other states.