Family Ties: The Case
for Subsidized Guardianship
About 46, 000 U.S. children
live in relative foster care ~ an option that
offers children greater safety and stability
than non-relative care. The arrangement, however,
is not permanent and comes with administrative
burdens. Kinship caregivers, for in stance,
must get permission to take children out-of-state,
or get them immunized. Once reunification
and adoption are ruled out. Subsidized guardianship
~ a legally permanent alternative that offers
children greater stability and reduces administrative
costs ~ is a far better choice than long-term
care.
Benefits of Subsidized Guardianship
Subsidized guardianship allows
children to grow up with relatives or other
caregivers to whom they are attached. As one
grandmother explains it, guardianship "gives
[my grandkids] a sense of belonging, that
they're just not floating and nobody
cares. ...I think in the children's
minds that it gives them a sense of security,
knowing that they're there and this
is home and they're not going anywhere."
In financial terms, even when
subsidized at the same level as foster care,
guardianship saves money and time by eliminating
casework services, licensing and judicial
reviews. As former juvenile court judge Nancy
Salyers asserts, "I don't think
there's a judge who hears child welfare
cases who won't tell you how overcrowded
their court rooms are...If a grandmother wants
to attend a family event across state lines,
[does she] really need to have to come into
court to get that permission?"
Although kin regularly care
for their relatives without support, subsidies
bolster stability. Research suggests that
guardianship disruptions rates are tied to
both the caregiver's financial assistance
and post placement services. Few guardianships
fail when families have the support they need.
When Guardianship is Right
The Adoption and Safe Families
Act recognizes adoption and guardianship as
permanency options for children in kinship
foster care. Adoption works well for relative
caregivers when a child does not have an established,
or safe, relationship with his birth parents
~ such as when kin have raised a child from
infancy, birth parents are not involved in
a child's life, or birth parents pose
a threat to a child's safety.
Legal guardianship transfers
most of the same rights and responsibilities
as adoption, but avoids recasting relatives'
existing roles and can keep birth parents
in their children's lives. Guardianship
works well when there are insufficient grounds
to terminate parental rights and adoption
is not the right choice. With a subsidized
guardianship option, families and judges have
the flexibility to lend legal permanence in
a way that respects cultural norms and strengthens
the role of extended family members.
A woman who is raising her son's
children explains why guardianship works for
her: "Adoption was not an option for
me because I did not want to see my son…
lose all rights to his kids…[I'm]
also hoping that one day he'll become
financially, emotionally able to take care
of his kids ~ hopefully before they get to
be adults. If not, I'm still there,
and he still has interaction with his kids."
Some advocates fear that relatives
who are offered guardianship will step away
from adoption. In Illinois, however, when
presented with information on adoption and
guardianship, relatives chose adoption 60
percent of the time.
Guardianship and Federal
Support
Since 1997, seven states have
offered subsidized guardianships through federal
waivers. In most of the programs, eligible
kinship caregivers received monthly payments
equal to or less than the foster care rate.
Federal funds covered about half the cost.
Other states have supported subsidized guardianship
through a variety of funding mechanisms, including
federal TANF funds and state dollars.
In two years, 10 states with
federally funded programs discharged 6,607
children to legal guardianships after one
year in foster care. In Illinois alone, over
a five-year period guardianship created permanency
for 6,822 children. In total, states with
federal waivers that enabled them to offer
subsidized guardianships noticed a 33 percent
decrease in long-term relative foster care
placements.
By contrast, under state-funded
guardianship programs long term foster kin
placements increased and states saw mixed
results in converting kin into legal guardians.
The results highlight the contradictory incentive
of continuing federal payments to families
who remain in foster care while withdrawing
federal support from relatives who become
legal guardians.
In addition, without federal
support, few states can afford to pay the
full foster care stipend to guardians. In
Maryland, where the guardianship payment was
half the foster care payment, evaluators concluded
that the payment differential discouraged
relatives from choosing guardianship.
Conclusion
For certain children, subsidized
guardianship is a viable pathway to permanence.
And while securing better outcomes at a reduced
cost is a compelling rationale, the real benefit
of this permanency option lies in enhanced
well-being for children and their families.
Intrusive agency and judicial oversight make
sense when a child's time away from
home is temporary. But once reunification
is no longer an option, adoption has been
ruled out and the child's safety is
assured, subsidized guardianship offers a
cost effective and proven way to provide waiting
children with a permanent family.
This article was adapted by
Mary Boo from Family Ties: Supporting Permanence
for Children in Safe and Stable Foster Care
with Relatives and Other Caregivers, a report
for Fostering Results by Mark Testa, Nancy
Sidote Salyers, Mike Shaver, and Jennifer
Miller. Information is also included from
the Family Ties press conference and from
Mark Testa's "When Children Cannot
Return Home: Adoption and Guardianship"
in the Future of Children, Winter 2004.
AFFM is pleased to share information
about Subsidized Guardianship as DHHS works
towards making the subsidy program available
to children currently in Maine's foster
care system. Kinship in Maine is growing and
it is important that providers work together
to furnish support to relatives and other
kin providers. Subsidized guardianship is
just one way to support the families. To insure
the success of kinship placements as with
foster care and adoption and parenting in
general, a myriad of resources will be needed.
|
| AFFM is pleased
to share information about Subsidized Guardianship
as DHHS works towards making the subsidy program
available to children currently in Maine's
foster care system. Kinship in Maine is growing
and it is important that providers work together
to furnish support to relatives and other kin
providers. Subsidized guardianship is just one
way to support the families. To insure the success
of kinship placements as with foster care and
adoption and parenting in general, a myriad of
resources will be needed. |
Adoptive Parents Proudly
Share Daughters Achievements
Trisha MacDonald Named Valedictorian for Stearns
High School Class of 2005
Trisha MacDonald, adopted daughter of Robert
and Hope MacDonald, has been a National Honors
Society member for three years. She performed
research in the Plan Soil and Microbial Science
Dept. at UMO last summer as a intern in the
MERITS program, and the summer before was selected
to participate in the MedStart Camp at Husson
College. She has been an avid member of the
Stearns Civil Rights Team, Student Council,
AP Peer Mentoring, Math Team, Prom Committee
and the Senior Awareness Committee. She has
been awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution
Good Citizen Award.
Trisha played field hockey for three years
and basketball for four years at Stearns High
School. She was chosen co-captain of the Varsity
basketball team her junior and senior years,
MVP two years, and named a PVC 1st Team All
Star for three years. This past season she scored
her 1000 point and made the All Tourney team,
the McDonald's All Star and the All Academic
Teams, as well as the honorable mention All
State Team.
Trisha has participated actively in the Performing
Arts Dept. at Stearns, also. She played trumpet
in the Concert and Jazz bands for four years,
and three years she accompanied the fall musical
in the Pit Band. This year she was first chair,
lead trumpet in the District V Honors Band.
She was awarded the Outstanding Trumpet Award
and Jazz Band States and cast as Little Red
Ridinghood in the fall musical, "Into
the Woods" her sophomore year. She was
selected as an All State member all four of
her high school years. Trisha also took dance
and gymnastics classes at Studio One for many
years.
Next fall, Trisha will be attending the University
of Southern Maine where she will be studying
Sports Medicine and playing basketball. |
Suspension, Expulsion & Manifestation
Determination Presented by:
Attorney Jim Munch of Bangor
Where: UPC Center, 700 Mt. Hope
Ave., Suite 320 Bangor from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
on Monday, July 18th.
This workshop has limited space
so register now.
Most know about suspension and
expulsion but don't realize that there
is a protocol that should be followed called Manifistation
Determination. This process determines if the
behavior is directly related to the disability.
Come learn how this often missed
process can protect your child.
To register contact Helen Jones/Gear at: (207)
564-3361 or (800) 264-9224 (state wide)
e-mail: gearregion3@verizon.net
|
Adoptive
and Foster Families of Maine congratulates each
family
as they celebrate the blessing of adoption.
With anxious hearts and
open arms,
we sought you everywhere.
You, dear child,
are a GIFT from God,
the answer to our prayer.
No matter whether
birth or choice,
a home is BLESSED
from above.
When caring parents
claim their child,
a family is formed by LOVE. |
Adoption Announcements!
-
Mayford and Dwight Westleigh
are pleased to announce the adoption of
3 year-old Austin Matthew Westleigh on May
24th, 2005. Austin joins grown siblings
Rachel, Jessica, Krystal and Dwight II,
and younger sibling Kelci Rose.
-
Ivan and Maureen Thornton
are pleased to announce the adoption of
2 year-old Shea Richard Thornton and 2 1/2
year-old Joshua Ryan Thornton. The adoption
was finalized on May 2nd, 2005. Shea and
Joshua join one older sibling, Melany Thornton,
age 16.
-
Tracy DeVoll and her daughter,
Brook DeVoll Dahl are pleased to announce
the adoption of 4 year-old Jebodiah Julien
DeVoll. The adoption was finalized on April
11th, 2005.
-
Marcia and Warren Reynolds
are pleased to announce the adoption of
4 year-old Mark Anthony Murtagh Reynolds.
The adoption was finalized May 3rd, 2005.
Mark joins siblings Amber (10) and Kylie
(8).
-
Michele Perkins and daughter
Zoe, from Norridgewock, are thrilled to
announce the adoption of 3 1/2 year-old
Jake Guy Perkins. The adoption was finalized
on June 7th, 2005.
He who sets the stars
in space
came by this way today.
He left a tiny bundle
within our hearts to stay.
He brought to us a miracle
and from the very start ~
He gave us love unspeakable
Boundless love within our heart.
What began as only two of us
For all the world to see ,
By the miracle of adoption we became a family.
|
If you would like
to have an adoption announcement published in
the Family Ties Newsletter please contact
us. |
A
mother is a person who can divide her love among
ten children
and yet each child has all her love. |
Summer
Saftey
Fun in the Sun
In the summer, the sun's rays are hard to
avoid, but there are steps you can take. The
American Cancer Society suggests "Slip!
Slop! Slap!" First, slip on a shirt,
preferably made of "tightly woven fabrics"
that block the sun's permeation. Next, 20 minutes
before going outside, slop on sunscreen with a skin protection factor (SPF) of 15 or
higher. However, never apply sunscreen to children
under 6 months of age. Instead, limit the time
they spend in the sun, says Nyki Brandon Palermo,
program manager for the National Safety Council's
Environmental Health Center. Finally, slap
on a hat -- one broad enough to shade the
sensitive skin on your face, ears and neck.
General Water Safety Tips
- Learn to swim. The best thing
anyone can do to stay safe in and around the
water is to learn to swim.
- Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.
The American Red Cross has swimming courses
for people of any age and swimming ability.
To enroll in a swim course, contact your local
Red Cross chapter.
- Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
- Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
- Children or inexperienced swimmers should
take pre-cautions, such as wearing a U.S.
Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device
(PFD) when around the water.
- Watch out for the dangerous "too's"
- too tired
- too cold
- too far from safety
- too much sun
- too much strenuous activity.
- Set water safety rules for the whole family
based on swimming abilities (for example,
inexperienced swimmers should stay in water
less than chest deep).
- Be knowledgeable of the water environment
you are in and its potential hazards, such
as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth
charges, obstructions and where the entry
and exit points are located. The more informed
you are, the more aware you will be of hazards
and safe practices.
- Pay attention to local weather conditions
and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first
indication of bad weather.
- Use a feet-first entry when entering the
water.
- Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly
marked for diving and has no obstructions.
- Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving
or boating. Alcohol impairs your judgment,
balance, and coordination, affects your swimming
and diving skills, and reduces your body's
ability to stay warm.
- Known how to prevent, recognize, and respond
to emergencies.
|
Maine
State Park Pass Program
AFFM is pleased that many foster
families are taking advantage of Park Passes.
Regretfully the Maine Department of Conservation,
Bureau of Parks and Lands is unable to add adoptive
and kinship families that are not licensed to
provide foster care to the park pass program.
AFFM along with adoptive and kinship providers,
and DHHS Foster Care Manager, Martha Proulx
and Adoption Manager, Virginia Marriner have
written letters of request to the Bureau. The
Bureau was sorry, but due to financial restraints
is not in a position to fulfill the request.
It is the hope of AFFM to continue
to provide the passes to foster families and
persevere toward a goal of increasing the families
served, if and when funds become available.
Families please take advantage
of Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, as all families
served by AFFM can use the pass for a one-time
event. The pass was in the May edition of Family
Ties. |
Free Kittens
For more information contact
Anita at 827-9199.
|
*AFFM
Lending Library Notice*
We are missing some of our popular materials.
If you have had materials out for more than
5 weeks, please return or call for an extension. |
Save the
Date
Adoptive and Foster Families
of Maine will have a yard sale July 14th &
15th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the office
parking lot located at 294 Center Street in
Old Town. The proceeds will be used to support
the services and resources AFFM provides to
adoptive, foster and kinship providers. If you
would like to donate items or volunteer, please
call 827-2331 or toll free at 1-800-833-9786. |
Corinth
Health & Fitness
Village Dance Studio
Dance Therapy
- Increase self esteem
- Improve peer interactions skills
- Improve motor skill and memory ability
- Learn to use breathing pattern and dance
as a
de-escalator
- Increase physical activity & improve
overall mood and demeanor
Theatre Camp
- Storytelling
- Movement/Body Lanuage
- Theatre games
- Performance Technique
Theatre Camp Instructor: Elaine Daugherty
Acting Instructor at the University of Maine
Associate Artistic Director, Northern Lights
Theatre
Summer Dance Camp
For beginners, intermediate and advanced students!
For additional information and details contact:
Angela Higgins at: 207-356-7242
Fax number: 207-285-0154
E-mail: Angela.Higgins@umit.maine.edu |
Monthly
Contact & Case Planning
The Bureau of Child & Family Services (BCFS)
believes that a positive, meaningful relationship
between the caseworker and the child, the child's
caregiver, and family members allows the children
we work with to be better served. The Child
and Family Services Reviews, conducted by the
Administration for Families and Children, have
shown that frequency of caseworker contact with
the child provides better outcomes for children.
These outcomes include: risk of harm; needs
and services of the child, parents and foster
parents; child and family involvement in case
planning; achieving the permanency goal of reunification,
guardianship and permanent placements with relatives;
and meeting children's education, physical
and mental health needs.
Supporting children and their caregivers and
moving children to permanency in shorter timeframes
is important to BCFS as well for the children
and families we serve. Therefore, beginning
on July 1, 2005 caseworkers are now going to
be visiting the children on their caseloads
on a monthly basis. These visits will be different
than the well-being and safety reviews caseworkers
currently conduct. The purpose of these monthly
contacts is to better know the children we work
with, what is going on in their lives, who is
important to them and who do they want contact
with, how are they doing in school and how is
their placement going, etc. Caseworkers will
be establishing relationships so they can make
case decisions to meet children's needs.
BCFS believes that children's voices need
to be heard, valued, and considered in decisions
regarding their lives.
It is expected that caseworkers will see children
in a variety of settings. For example they may
visit a child and their foster parents at the
foster home, they may see the child at a Family
Team Meeting or during a family visit, or they
may transport a child to a visit or to therapy.
The plan for how contact will occur will take
into consideration the wishes of the child.
In addition to case planning the information
gathered during these contacts will be used
to assess the child's well-being and safety.
This will replace the formal interview process
that now occurs on a quarterly basis. It is
believed that this more frequent contact will
also better meet the needs of foster parents
as caseworkers will know what is occurring and
be better able to support foster parents and
meet their needs in caring for their foster
child.
The second change that is being made involves
the case planning process. Foster parents are
the experts on the children placed with them
and should be involved when the child's
case plan is developed. It is the expectation
that case plans will be developed at Family
Team Meetings and that the foster parents will
be invited and encouraged to participate.
The Bureau believes that these two changes
will better support foster parents, involve
foster parents more and improve outcomes for
children.
~Martha Proulx |
Adoption
Assistance Is All About Families
Beginning in July of 2005, the Bureau of Child
and Family Services will be working with families
considering adoption in a new way. Rather than
relying solely on the board rate set in foster
care through Levels of Care, Adoption staff
will be taking a new approach to determine the
subsidy amount. This will be an interactive
approach with the adoptive family to determine
a rate that will both meet the child's
needs and take into
consideration the circumstances of the family.
As a basis for beginning the discussion, we
will look at the Level the child is currently
assessed at and work from that standpoint. We
continue to need to cap at a level of $30.00
per day, however there will be more flexibility.
We will also be able to offer a Deferred Subsidy,
(no dollar subsidy), for those children that
do not demonstrate any specific special needs
at the time of the adoption, but there are significant
risk factors in the child's background,
such as family history of substance abuse or
mental illness that would place the child at
risk for future difficulties. Families would
be able to inform the Adoption Assistance Program
at any time the child began to experience difficulties
that required financial support.
We will also have the flexibility to support
families in meeting the needs of their adopted
children if there should be a significant reduction
in the family income due to illness or job loss
up to the $30.00 level.
We will also have more flexibility in managing
with families how to best meet the child's
needs when there is a Third Party Benefit involved,
such as Social Security payments or veteran's
benefits – determine which program, Adoption
Assistance or other third party benefit –
either together or separately – will provide
the better means of support for the special
needs of the child.
Adoption staff statewide have been involved
in training to better facilitate this discussion
with adoptive families to support them and to
allow families more flexibility in determining
what will be most supportive to them as they
make the lasting commitment of adoption.
Annual Reviews will continue and will be an
opportunity for families to inform the Adoption
Assistance program of any changes in the needs
of the child or the circumstances of the family.
Thanks to all of our adoptive families for
the love and security they provide.
~Virginia Marriner, Adoption Manager |
|
