Call for Input on Financing of Child Welfare!Child Welfare League of America In recent days, I have sent you a great deal of information regarding the current debate in Washington over child welfare financing, and, in particular, the foster care system. Included in this information was a description of a new bipartisan commission recently established. Its mission is to focus on policy recommendations to improve the federal financing of foster care and court oversight of child welfare cases. The commission provides all of us concerned about the child welfare system the opportunity to advocate for significant reform beyond the sometimes restricted debate that can take place in Congress.  The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care is asking for input on improvements to the child welfare system as it develops its policy recommendations to Congress on improving the federal financing of foster care and court oversight of child welfare cases. The Commission is an independent, non-partisan group established to consider a broad array of options to improve the child welfare system. The input of CWLA's membership is critical to ensure that any proposal to improve existing federal financing mechanisms and services in the foster care system are done with the children's safety, permanence, and well-being as priorities. All comments and submissions must be received by AUGUST 1, 2003. The Commission is interested in accepting comments and policy options, including, but not limited to: The Commission views the "call for input" as the best way to hear from a wide range of perspectives, and we agree. As we encourage members to submit their own comments and input, CWLA will also submit comments that reflect on the CWLA's key principles: In addition to these issues, the Child Welfare League of America has always supported efforts to improve our court systems through the efforts of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Model Court Initiative. This has involved a call for additional funding for court services, development of court infrastructure, including information systems, and replication of best practices. This Commission is to be commended for taking on this task of providing Congress and the Administration its best recommendations for reforming the current federal child welfare system. In addition to financing improvements, we will ask the Commission to examine ways to implement needed improvements in services, workforce, and training. ACTION REQUIRED: SUBMIT INPUT BY AUGUST 1, 2003. To submit input to the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, please send electronically as a Word document, by August 1, 2003, to: input@pewfostercare.org. If you are unable to submit electronically, you may fax to 202-687-4805, or mail to Attention: Input, The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, 2233 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 535, Washington, DC, 20007. Please include contact information (name, phone number and email address) on the first page of your document. MESSAGE: Provide input to the Commission on ways to improve the way the federal government funds child welfare, as well as recommendations to improve court oversight of child welfare cases. Express the need to address a comprehensive reform of the federal, state, local, and tribal child welfare financing partnership so that America's children across each state in the nation can be ensured consistent levels of safety, protection, and care. Urge the Commission to OPPOSE any proposal that would convert foster care funding into a block grant and eliminate the federal guarantee of entitlement funding.
For more information, or to contact Child Welfare League of America, see their website at: www.cwla.org |
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