DeLauro, Cole Lead Effort to Improve Foster Care Services for Most Vulnerable Youth
WASHINGTON D.C. – Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Tom Cole (R-OK) reintroduced legislation today to improve foster care services for thousands of America’s most vulnerable youth. The Family-Based Foster Care Services Act increases access to quality care by clarifying Medicaid policy that directly affects foster children with special behavioral health needs and/or medical disabilities.
Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) is the evidence-informed, trauma-informed, and highly effective placement of children and youth with serious medical, psychological, emotional and social needs. Under the TFC model, foster parents are given special training to address the needs of youths with major mental health challenges and children receive intensive in-home services to sustain them in the community.
“Our nation’s foster children are among our most vulnerable,” said DeLauro. “Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) is a common-sense alternative to costly and restrictive mental health institutions for struggling foster children and families. But without a standard, national definition that promotes accountability and broadens funding options, TFC will remain out of reach for too many children. I am proud to join Congressman Cole in reintroducing the Family-Based Foster Care Services Act and urge others to join us in helping some of the most vulnerable children in America today.”
Cole said: “I am pleased to join Congresswoman DeLauro again this year in introducing legislation that encourages therapeutic foster care. Oklahoma has already shown great leadership in providing quality therapeutic foster care through state licensure and national accreditation of TFC agencies. Introduction of the Family-Based Foster Care Services Act extends this same idea in every state and would help individuals receive quality care while also serving as a check on Medicaid funding.”
DeLauro and Cole introduced similar legislation in the 113th Congress. They are the senior Democrat and Chairman, respectively, of the subcommittee responsible for funding the departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services.
TFC works to keep its particularly vulnerable youth out of costly and often ineffective institutional care. Additionally, it provides needed clinical therapy options to youth in lieu of overmedication. Despite the clear benefits of TFC, current law does not provide for a standard definition of TFC under Medicaid. Though TFC services are provided across the country—and are reimbursed under Medicaid and other child welfare funding streams—the lack of a federal standard definition impairs TFC quality and access. The Family-Based Foster Care Services Act fixes this problem by establishing a federal Medicaid definition for TFC. This commonsense clarification will promote accountability for states offering TFC, identify financing options, and drive personnel training and standards.
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