[ranoutofnames]

In my state (Kansas) there is already an impact occuring. Several services are being considered for cut or reduction. Nothing is set in stone until July 2009. This is something that I heard in regards to foster care:

"release children in need of care at age 18, and not place youths age 16 and older in custody except for maltreatment"

Currently foster children can stay in foster care until they are 21 if they want. Some at least wait until they have graduated from high school before checking out.

Anyone hearing anything from the state heads of your Children and Family agencies?

[mom2fabtwins]

I have heard nothing.

BUT I am selfishly thinking that maybe this will force the states to act quicker on the TPR. I have two that have been in care for 20 Months and the TRP should have been started in Oct....now we are looking at January. The oldest is 7 and getting close to the "hard to find a family" age.

Even if it is just so the parent visits stop. Think of that cost savings - The kids would be able to emotional start to move on.

I was estimating costs the other day, It is costing my county @ $8,000 per child per month for continued care (not including medical - not I don't get the 8 grand). If the TRPs would have been started on time, that would have save the county $45,000 and counting.....I'll estimate that it will cost $150,000 due to paperwork and court delays before these kids find forever homes.

[EandDmom]

I think we will be ok. Our governor just got re-elected and he made alot of changes for the good in his last term. Indiana was ranked very low on the foster care system and the changes have helped the statistics if nothing else so I'm hoping he will leave it alone if not make more improvements.

[lyly]

Does anyone know if its going to impact the new foster parents? What i mean is are they going to keep licensing new foster parents and is the process going to be longer?

[Lorraine123]

My state (Maryland) is proposing cutting out POS. Which means that adoptive parents from out of state will not get services.

[millie58]

I haven't heard anything but NY has a HUGE deficit going on for the next 5 years. I'm thinking adoption would be pushed as kids not adopted have a higher chance of ending up in the penal system which will cost even more.

[wellnow]

Originally Posted by ranoutofnames

In my state (Kansas) there is already an impact occuring. Several services are being considered for cut or reduction. Nothing is set in stone until July 2009. This is something that I heard in regards to foster care:

"release children in need of care at age 18, and not place youths age 16 and older in custody except for maltreatment"

Currently foster children can stay in foster care until they are 21 if they want. Some at least wait until they have graduated from high school before checking out.

Anyone hearing anything from the state heads of your Children and Family agencies?

I haven't heard anything about my state (TX)...I've been on the website looking for any information and haven't found anything...I hope cuts aren't being mad!!

[sethsmommy]

Here in Nevada the cw said they are chatting about salary reductions for the caseworkers. They are still hiring as she said they just hired-on another cw.

We are NE Nevada....

[catkendig]

Don't know the specifics but PA got handed a pretty big cut statewide and is now in a hiring freeze. Only 'essential' personnel can be replaced. My county is down a few people.