BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE
Senator S. Joseph Simitian, Chair
BILL NO: AJR 10
A
AUTHOR: Chu
J
VERSION: May 5, 2005
R
HEARING DATE: June 14, 2005
FISCAL: Senate Appropriations
1
0
CONSULTANT:
Sue North
SUBJECT
Foster Care Services: Title IVE waiver
SUMMARY
The primary source of federal funding in California's
foster care system is Title IVE of the Social Security Act.
This resolution (AJR10) urges the federal government to
approve California's application for a Title IVE Waiver and
urges the Department of Social Services to work with the
federal government to expedite approval but also to work
with the counties on improvements in outcomes for at-risk
abused and neglected children.
ABSTRACT
Under current law the Department of Social Services is the
responsible state agency administering Title IVE funds
from the federal government. These funds provide
approximately one-third of the revenues required to finance
the children in the state's foster care system. The
formula used by the federal government to allocate Title
IVE funds measures the numbers of children in out-of-home
Continued---
STAFF ANALYSIS OF ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 10 Page
2
placement and the duration of placement. Federal
regulations in addition require that all children who
receive the services provided pursuant to title IVE must be
in out-of-home placement.
This resolution urges the federal government to change some
of the anachronistic elements of Title IVE law and
regulations and asks that California be granted a waiver to
demonstrate a more effective and efficient use of federal
funds through a broader interpretation of services in order
to intervene sooner while children are at home and prevent
costly out-of-home care.
FISCAL IMPACT
Minor absorbable costs
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The current restrictions in the use of Title IVE monies
create real limitations on the effectiveness of the state's
foster care system since the most innovative and
cost-effective service programs currently in practice
target "wraparound services" designed to intervene and
assist parents and children at-risk of dependence or abuse
and neglect to gain the skills and supportive services
necessary to keep the children in their homes, staying in
school and staying out of the juvenile justice system. At
least eight counties (Alameda, Humboldt, Orange, Placer,
Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Yolo) have
expressed an interest in participating in the waiver,
should it be approved.
It can be expected that the federal government's approval
may be predicated on a cost neutral approach---committing
no more funds to California, but rather allow the funds to
be expended for a broader array of services. Nonetheless,
such a waiver would provide needed flexibility (in the
author's words) to "develop a more effective and
fact-driven differential response at the front end of the
STAFF ANALYSIS OF ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 10 Page
3
foster care system, based on a rational assessment of both
risk to the child and family strengths."
Assembly votes
Assembly Human Services 7-0
Assembly Appropriations18-0
Assembly Floor 72-0
POSITIONS
Support: Children's Law Center of Los Angeles
(Sponsor)
Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
California Welfare Directors
Association
Oppose: None received
-- END --