Policy Priorities

In 2004, the national, non-partisan Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care recommended a reliable federal financing system with both increased flexibility and accountability as a means to prevent children from languishing in foster care. New federal financing policies, combined with recently enacted state court improvements, would provide professionals who serve children and families with better tools to help more families stay together, ensure children in foster care exit the system to safe, permanent families, and reduce the number of youth who age out each year with no family they can count on. The Kids Are Waiting: Fix Foster Care Now campaign promotes the following policy options, as recommended by the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care:

1. Direct federal child welfare resources to additional services and supports children and families need, such as preventive services or supports that would help children leave foster care more quickly and safely. 
2. When reunification is not possible, help more children leave foster care for safe, permanent families through supported adoption or by guardianship placements with relatives and other caregivers.
3. Make all children eligible for federal foster care and adoption assistance support.
4. Reward states for reducing the number of children in foster care and achieving all forms of permanence.