Dave Reichert

A House bill introduced today would provide tax credits of up to $2,400 to employers who hire current and former foster youth between the ages of 18 and 27. The Improved Employment Outcomes for Foster Youth Act would for the first time include foster youth as an eligible category under the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which incentivizes the hiring of certain groups who struggle with barriers to employment.

The Family First Act has the support of the organizations representing state human services agencies and state advocacy groups. It is endorsed by the membership group representing many of the nation’s child welfare providers, many of which provide residential care.

The field of child welfare is brimming with policy proposals and legislation that could dramatically change the way the federal government invests in foster care and families on the brink. What’s more, some appear to have bipartisan support or the potential for it.

There are no specifics yet, but over the past month, Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) has stepped up his emphasis on the need for reforming how foster care is financed. As the Chairman of the Human Resources Subcommittee of the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over legislation related to foster care spending, Reichert will be a key player in the ensuing debate over the degree to which the foster care system should be responsible for preventing child maltreatment and abuse.

Leaders of the largest operating foundation in child welfare envision federal foster finance reform in as few as two to three years.  On May 28th, Casey Family Programs welcomed a powerful group of child welfare  leaders to its Seattle headquarters during a meeting billed as part of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth’s National Listening Tour.

President Signs Children’s Commission Into Law On Monday, January 14, President Obama signed the Protect Our Kids Act (HR 6655) into law. The Protect Our Kids Act (PL 112-275) establishes a commission to examine child deaths in the United States.