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Date: Friday, Nov. 22, 1996
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215

"Insuring that children are safe, in nurturing homes, and giving states the flexibility to test new ways to meet the needs of children and families in crisis are commitments of the Clinton administration," said Secretary Shalala. "Oregon has a promising demonstration to keep children safe and more of their families together."

Under the demonstration, Oregon will use title IV-E foster care funds to provide a broad range of services to children and families at risk. Oregon is testing whether flexible funding and a new casework approach, called "System of Care," will allow caseworkers to more closely match services to needs, and serve more children safely in their homes rather than placing them in foster care whenever possible.

Services will be tailored specifically for each family's needs, and will include child protection, crisis intervention, and support services to allow children to stay safely in their homes. Building on family strengths, the project will seek to maximize extended family and community resources. Social workers and the family will cooperatively develop a plan to keep the child safe, and the state will provide services to support the plan. Such services could include substance abuse treatment, domestic violence counseling and respite care. Previously, federal funds could be used primarily to pay for the room and board of children in out-of-home care.

"This project will strengthen Oregon's successful efforts to improve services to children and families," said Olivia Golden, acting assistant secretary for children and families. "By giving states flexibility to reform their child protective services, vulnerable children have new hope for stronger families to provide them safe and supportive homes."

The demonstration will operate for five years and include a rigorous evaluation.