Bill Overview
Title: Promoting Permanency Through Kinship Families Act
Description: This bill revises the requirements for states with respect to foster care and adoption assistance to promote kinship placements.
Sponsors: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
Target Audience
Population: People involved in kinship foster care arrangements
Estimated Size: 450000
- Kinship care involves relatives or close family friends taking care of a child when their biological parents are unable to do so.
- Foster care systems exist globally, and many countries encourage placement with kin or known family when possible.
- The bill specifically impacts foster care systems, which can involve a significant portion of the global population, especially in regions with high rates of children in care.
Reasoning
- A significant portion of the policy's budget will go towards training and support for kinship families, improving the children's experience and well-being.
- The target population includes children in kinship care as well as the adults taking care of them, spreading the policy's impact over a large group.
- Not everyone in foster care is in a kinship situation, so the overall impact distribution includes varying levels of effect, from none to high.
- Support structures likely to come into play include better financial assistance, counseling, and legal support for families qualifying as kinship care providers.
- The policy aims to stabilize children's living situations, leading to improvements in long-term well-being.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Texas)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to see more support for families like ours. We've been doing this mostly on our own.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Social Worker (California)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is very much needed. It helps to promote better familial bonds and stability for children.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Stay-at-home mom (Illinois)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We've been stressed about our finances, so any extra help would be amazing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Accountant (New York)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might ease some financial burdens, allowing me to focus more on the children's education and well-being.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired (Florida)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any additional support would be a relief, especially with the rising costs of healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
College Student (Ohio)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm pursuing this field because I know how beneficial kinship care can be. This policy could really encourage more families to help kids.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Construction Worker (Nevada)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's challenging being both a parent and the sole provider. Extra financial support means more time for family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Lawyer (Massachusetts)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Greater support for kinship families can have a positive impact on reducing legal issues related to foster care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired Policeman (Pennsylvania)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've had to think about going back to work part-time, any financial aid from this would make a huge difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
IT Specialist (North Carolina)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This kind of support complements educational initiatives like the ones I'm involved in.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $260000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $310000000)
Year 3: $270000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $320000000)
Year 5: $290000000 (Low: $240000000, High: $340000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 100: $350000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Key Considerations
- States will need to realign their programs to focus on kinship placements, which may require initial investments and adjustments in infrastructure.
- The cost-benefit balance hinges on the long-term outcomes of children in kinship care versus traditional foster care placements.
- The potential reduction in long-term social costs is significant, though difficult to quantify precisely upfront.