Bill Overview
Title: Data-Driven Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires state plans for child welfare services to provide for the development and implementation of a family partnership plan to improve foster care placement stability, increase rates of kinship placements, and align the racial and ethnic composition of foster and adoptive families with that of children in need of homes.
Sponsors: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Target Audience
Population: Children in Foster Care Systems and Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents
Estimated Size: 450000
- Foster care is a global concern, but the bill specifically targets child welfare services within the United States.
- The overall number of children in foster care globally is substantial, but U.S. focus limits the direct target here in terms of measurable impact.
- Globally, there are millions of children in need of foster homes, but U.S. legislation like this has a specific jurisdictional impact.
Reasoning
- The policy targets both children in foster care and prospective foster and adoptive parents. It aims to improve stability and success in foster placements, which can have positive effects on wellbeing, especially by reducing disruptions and ensuring cultural familiarity.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy will have to prioritize certain state services or populations, possibly focusing on areas with the greatest need or variance currently in racial and ethnic matching of families to children.
- The policy might create new tools or partnerships for recruitment and retention, impacting foster parents' satisfaction and reducing burnout, which would improve long-term outcomes for children.
- Through better alignment of racial and ethnic composition, the policy could address systemic inequities in foster care, affecting the general perception and quality of care received by children.
Simulated Interviews
Foster Parent (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have had children move because of racial mismatch with foster families. It would be great to see a focus on matching resources so children feel more at home.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Child Welfare Social Worker (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Retention of foster parents needs to be addressed. This policy might finally give us the resources to keep good people from burning out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Prospective Adoptive Parent (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The process is daunting, but if this policy can streamline it and focus on cultural matching, it would be a relief.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Child Advocate (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could help so many kids find better-suited homes, but there must be accountability in implementing these changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Foster Care Alumni (Dallas, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having lived it, I see why stability is key. I hope this can reduce the number of moves kids like me faced.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
LGBTQ+ Youth Counselor (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The mismatched placements harm LGBTQ+ youth. This policy should emphasize tailored placements to mitigate mental health issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've thought about fostering, but I've heard the systems aren't very supportive. This might actually make it appealing to try.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Administrator, Foster Care Agency (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I need more resources to meet demand. This policy might provide what we need to expand and improve placement stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired School Teacher (Rural Nebraska)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For rural areas, we need to be part of the focus. These kids require stability just as much as urban ones.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Prospective Foster Parent (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm ready to take on fostering, but I need cultural support networks to ensure positive outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $510000000 (Low: $410000000, High: $610000000)
Year 3: $520000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $620000000)
Year 5: $540000000 (Low: $440000000, High: $640000000)
Year 10: $560000000 (Low: $460000000, High: $660000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Sufficient training and support mechanisms are critical to ensure the effectiveness of recruitment and retention enhancements.
- Balancing technological investments with on-ground human services support is pivotal for achieving desired outcomes.