Bill Overview
Title: Foster Care Stabilization Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Administration for Children and Families to award demonstration grants to foster care stabilization agencies to improve services for foster youth awaiting placement and for other emergency assistance.
Sponsors: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]
Target Audience
Population: Foster care youth awaiting placement
Estimated Size: 35000
- Foster care youth are individuals under 18 who are placed in the foster care system due to various circumstances like abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
- Globally, the number of children in foster care greatly varies by country due to different reporting standards and social support systems. The US, for instance, has over 400,000 children in foster care at any given time.
- The legislation specifically targets services for 'foster youth awaiting placement,' which is a smaller subset of the total foster care population, as it specifically includes those without a current foster home placement.
- Globally additional populations of foster youth in other countries are likely to exist in similar circumstances, but their services might not be altered directly by this US-focused legislation.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy is quite specific: foster care youth awaiting placement, which is a smaller subset of the overall foster care population.
- Given the budget and the number of beneficiaries, it is expected that the impact will vary significantly depending on individual circumstances.
- Factors such as location, availability of foster care agencies, and individual needs will influence how significantly the policy improves an individual's situation.
- The estimated numbers suggest that approximately 35,000 children could be directly impacted by the policy, but not all to the same degree.
- It's crucial to include perspectives from those not directly impacted, as the system dynamics might change, affecting other stakeholders indirectly.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 16 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having been moved multiple times, I just want a stable home. If this policy helps with that, I'm all for it.
- More services could mean a better chance at finding a permanent placement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Part-time worker (New York, NY)
Age: 17 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about what happens when I age out. If the policy helps with transition plans, that would ease my mind.
- More stability and resources are always good.
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 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 10 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I just want to stay with my siblings. If this policy helps us stay together, that's all I want.
- I've been waiting too long for a permanent placement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 14 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s exhausting to move around all the time. Any help to stop that is welcome.
- More continuity would help me settle down and do better in school.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Rural Montana)
Age: 15 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m solid right now, but the policy could help others get what I have, which is good.
- I see my friends struggle, and if this helps them, I support it.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 13 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s hard dealing with everything without my siblings. If the policy reunites us, that would be amazing.
- More mental health support would help too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
High school senior (Seattle, WA)
Age: 18 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been lucky with my family, but I worry about after I age out.
- More support for life skills and independence would be ideal.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Part-time retail worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 16 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s tough in the group home; more resources would help me prep for the future.
- The policy seems like a good step towards stability and support.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 12 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have a great situation with my aunt. I hope others find the same stability.
- I think there should be less chaos for everyone.
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 |
Student (Denver, CO)
Age: 17 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm tired of moving. This policy could give me some much-needed stability.
- It sounds like it could help shorten the wait for a permanent home.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $350000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $450000000)
Year 2: $340000000 (Low: $240000000, High: $440000000)
Year 3: $330000000 (Low: $230000000, High: $430000000)
Year 5: $310000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $410000000)
Year 10: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $400000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the grant distribution and the ability of local agencies to implement improvements swiftly and efficiently.
- Potential for varied implementation success rates across different regions due to disparities in existing infrastructure or local governance models.
- Possible alignment or misalignment with existing state or federal initiatives, impacting both effectiveness and funding overlap.