FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, Sept. 17, 1998
Contact: Michael Kharfen, (202) 401-9215
HHS APPROVES FIRST CHILD WELFARE DEMONSTRATIONS
WITH NEW EXPANDED AUTHORITY FOR MAINE AND MISSISSIPPI
HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala today announced approval of two
child welfare demonstrations for Maine and Mississippi, aimed
at broadening protection of children and securing permanent foster
families quickly when they are needed.
These demonstrations are the first approved with expanded authority
provided under the Adoption and Safe Families Act signed by President
Clinton in November 1997. The new authority enables HHS to give
states more flexibility in trying innovative child welfare projects.
"Thousands of children in our country, many of whom have
been abused and neglected, are languishing in the public foster
care system, dreaming of one day having their own family to love
and care for them," Secretary Shalala said. "President
Clinton sought, and Congress approved, new authority to help states
try creative and groundbreaking demonstrations to improve services
to children. We're very pleased to support Maine and Mississippi
in their new efforts on behalf of their most vulnerable children."
The Adoption and Safe Families Act made the most sweeping changes
in the nation's child welfare laws since 1980, directing the states
to ensure the safety of children at risk as a priority, and aimed
at securing permanent homes speedily for children placed in foster
care. President Clinton has set a goal for the new law of doubling
the number of children adopted from the public foster care system.
Prior to the new law, Congress had given authority to HHS to grant
up to 10 demonstration projects to states. Ten states were approved,
though many more were interested. The new law allows HHS to approve
up to 10 more demonstrations each year for the next five years.
HHS has encouraged states to develop projects in several key areas:
increasing adoptions of special needs children, promoting community-based
services to prevent child abuse and neglect, improving the access
to needed health and mental health services, and projects to meet
the unique needs of Indian children.
Maine's demonstration aims to increase the number of adoptions
of special needs children, which includes those children who are
older, have disabilities, or other factors that make their adoption
more difficult. The state will use its federal funds to design
and implement an adoption training curriculum for mental health
professionals and other service providers working with the families
of special needs children. These providers will become expert
in working with families in need of post-adoption services. Maine
will also use its adoption assistance funds to provide an array
of supportive services for families who adopt special needs children.
Such services could include support groups, advocacy services,
respite care, rehabilitation support, and recreational services.
In Mississippi, the State and HHS have in recent years developed
a Partnership Initiative to improve the state's child protective
system. Under the new demonstration, Mississippi will expand eligibility
for federal child welfare services. Child welfare funds will be
spent for items or services that will eliminate or reduce harm
to children in crisis. The state will build "child-focused,
family-centered" case management teams that will work together
across agency and discipline lines. These teams will provide services
that may include respite care, family counseling, parenting training,
medical care, child care, transportation, and tutoring. The demonstration
will be tested in eight counties: Forrest, Holmes, Jones, Lamar,
Madison, Pearl River, Rankin, and Yazoo.
"Maine has a creative plan that will encourage more families
to open their hearts and homes for children in need," said
Olivia A. Golden, HHS assistant secretary for children and families.
"Mississippi has made enormous strides over the past few
years in improving its child welfare services, and this demonstration
will support the state in trying new and promising approaches
that could become a model for other states."
Federal funds will be available to states for these services and
placements which previously could be used primarily to pay for
the room and board of eligible children in outofhome care. The
demonstration projects are required to be consistent with the
purposes of existing law and be cost-neutral to the federal government.
Both Maine's and Mississippi's demonstrations are for five years,
and will include a rigorous evaluation.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
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