Bill Overview
Title: Fostering Secure Family Partnerships Act
Description: This bill increases payments to states for kinship navigator programs, which assist kinship caregivers in identifying and accessing services.
Sponsors: Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]
Target Audience
Population: Kinship caregivers and the children in their care
Estimated Size: 5000000
- Kinship navigator programs are designed to support kinship caregivers, who are family members (often grandparents, aunts, uncles, or close family friends) who care for a child when parents are unable to do so.
- The target population for such programs broadly includes kinship caregivers and the children in their care.
- These programs generally aim to improve the stability and wellbeing of these families by connecting them with resources such as financial assistance, legal aid, and health services.
- The passage of this bill would likely increase the number of kinship caregivers who are able to access necessary support and services, thereby having a positive impact on this demographic.
Reasoning
- The target population for the Fostering Secure Family Partnerships Act is mainly kinship caregivers, who are caring for children when their parents cannot. These caregivers face unique challenges, and any policy that increases their access to services could significantly enhance their wellbeing.
- The budget constraint and program reach suggest that while the policy can potentially impact millions, the scale of individual changes will vary greatly. Many caregivers currently struggle with accessing needed services, and this bill should help bridge some of those gaps.
- Several factors were considered in choosing interview subjects, including age, family situation, geographic diversity, and direct vs. indirect impacts of the policy.
- The population simulation assumes a broad spectrum of experiences within kinship care, acknowledging that some may not feel any impact while others might experience notable changes in wellbeing.
- While the policy has the potential to improve the quality of life for kinship caregivers, the actual impact will largely depend on the effectiveness and reach of the kinship navigator programs.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Florida)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I really struggle with navigating the resources available for my grandkids.
- Any help from the government would make such a big difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Teacher (California)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s tough to balance caregiving with a full-time job without external help.
- I hope the policy will provide clearer paths to assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Homemaker (Texas)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I need more guidance and financial support than I receive now.
- I’m hopeful this policy could alleviate some of the pressure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Social Worker (New York)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accessing services efficiently has always been a challenge.
- This policy could be a game-changer for many families like mine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired Police Officer (Ohio)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any additional support system is welcomed.
- The long-term impact of felt absence in services can be huge.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Freelancer (Oregon)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Navigating for sibling-related care is hard—I have high hopes for this policy.
- Balancing my work and the siblings' needs is challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Farmer (North Carolina)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Living in a rural area makes getting services difficult—this act might help.
- We don’t know where help's coming from sometimes.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Health Aide (Georgia)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing the services to reach out to could change our living situation completely.
- Hoping for less governmental red tape in access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Engineer (Illinois)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Understanding the resources available can have a big impact on day-to-day life.
- This policy could cut down on the maze of healthcare services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Nurse (Mississippi)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved access to services would be a real blessing.
- I've had years of figuring things out on my own.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $26000000 (Low: $21000000, High: $31000000)
Year 3: $27000000 (Low: $22000000, High: $32000000)
Year 5: $29000000 (Low: $24000000, High: $34000000)
Year 10: $35000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $40000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The expansion of kinship navigator programs is intended to address a gap in support for non-parental caregivers and the children under their care.
- Ensuring adequate state-level infrastructure and personnel to handle the increased demand for services is crucial for the effectiveness of the policy.
- Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms should be set to measure the impact of the increased funding on service delivery and family outcomes.