Fostering Connections Resource Center

Here you will find state and national tools, analyses and research related specifically to the Kinship/Guardianship provisions of the new Fostering Connections law. If you know of any resources that do not appear in our library, please send us an email at with the suggested resource, author and website URL for consideration.

Texas Resources

Tools

Research & Reports

  • Child Welfare Outcomes 2003-2006: Report to Congress
    Child Welfare Outcomes 2003–2006: Report to Congress is a report created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the Department) to meet requirements of section 203(a) of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA).1 ASFA amended section 479A of the Social Security Act to require an annual report on State performance. Child Welfare Outcomes 1998 was the first report created in the Child Welfare Outcomes series of reports.
  • Reasonable Efforts to Preserve or Reunify Families and Achieve Permanency for Children
    A description of Reasonable Efforts as it applies to family reunification.
  • New Help for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives: Questions and Answers About the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
    This question and answer guide aims to ensure full and prompt implementation of the improvements in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives.
  • Texas Fostering Connections Act Implementation Report
    Provides an overview of the state's child welfare population, budget, native tribes, and the progress (as of 2009) the state has made in implementing the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act.
  • Key Considerations for Implementing the Notice Requirement of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
    This document outlines the components that are required by the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Fostering Connections Act) in order for a state or tribe to comply with the Notification of Relatives Provision (Section 103) of the law.

Analysis

  • ACYF-CB-PI-08-05
    A description of the provisions of Public Law 110-351 by the Children's Bureau.
  • New guidance from Children's Bureau on Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
    The Program Instruction, ACYF-CB-PI-10-01 issued on February 18, 2010, supersedes earlier instructions (ACYF-CB-PI-08-07 issued on December 24, 2008). This analysis describes the new PI. Under the new Program Instruction, states and tribes electing the KinGAP option and seeking to claim federal funding for children in guardianship arrangements prior to approval of the plan amendment must notify ACF of their plans to do so. They must submit a description to ACF explaining the process it will use to ensure that claims will only be submitted on behalf of children who meet all eligibility criteria for the KinGAP Program.
  • Resources from CDF on policies and programs related to Fostering Connections Act
    An array of resources by the Children's Defense Fund on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.

Training

No resources are available for Texas.

National Resources

Tools

Research & Reports

  • Child Welfare Outcomes 2003-2006: Report to Congress
    Child Welfare Outcomes 2003–2006: Report to Congress is a report created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the Department) to meet requirements of section 203(a) of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA).1 ASFA amended section 479A of the Social Security Act to require an annual report on State performance. Child Welfare Outcomes 1998 was the first report created in the Child Welfare Outcomes series of reports.
  • "Green Book"- Child Welfare section
    The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee "Green Book" section on child welfare includes information on federal programs dedicated to child welfare purposes, including program requirements, spending and characteristics of children served.
  • Reasonable Efforts to Preserve or Reunify Families and Achieve Permanency for Children
    A description of Reasonable Efforts as it applies to family reunification.
  • New Help for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives: Questions and Answers About the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008
    This question and answer guide aims to ensure full and prompt implementation of the improvements in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives.
  • Strengthening Families Through Guardianship
    This publication provides a brief overview of guardianship and why it is important as a permanency option for children in foster care
  • Subsidized Guardianship: Testing the Generalizability of an Idea Whose Time Has Finally Come
    This powerpoint presentation provides an overview of the results of Tennessee's subsidized guardianship waiver
  • Child Welfare and Child Support: Working Together to Help Families
    Published by the Administration for Children and Families, this document provides advice on how child support and child welfare agencies can work together to identify family resources for children at risk of or in foster care
  • The Indian Extended Family and Its Relationship to Parenting
  • Securing Child Safety, Well-being, and Permanency Through Placement Stability in Foster Care
    Provides an overview of how to achieve successful placement stability within foster care.
  • Key Considerations for Implementing the Notice Requirement of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
    This document outlines the components that are required by the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Fostering Connections Act) in order for a state or tribe to comply with the Notification of Relatives Provision (Section 103) of the law.

Analysis

  • Summary and Section-by-Section Description of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (H.R. 6893)
    This memorandum provides a section-by-section overview of major provisions included in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
  • Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008: New Opportunities for Children in Foster Care and Beyond.
    This Powerpoint presentation provides an introduction to the new law, background on key provisions, the potential impact on children and families, and an information to guide implementation.
  • Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: Implementation Issues and a Look Ahead at Additional Child Welfare Reforms
    This brief summarizes the Fostering Connections Act and examines implementation issues.
  • Subsidized Guardianship: Testing the Generalizability of an Idea Whose Time Has Finally Come
    This powerpoint presentation provides an overview of the results of Tennessee's subsidized guardianship waiver
  • Resources from CLASP on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act
    An array of resources by the Center for Law and Social Policy on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.
  • Resources from CWLA on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act
    An array of resources by the Child Welfare League of America on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.
  • New guidance from Children's Bureau on Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
    The Program Instruction, ACYF-CB-PI-10-01 issued on February 18, 2010, supersedes earlier instructions (ACYF-CB-PI-08-07 issued on December 24, 2008). This analysis describes the new PI. Under the new Program Instruction, states and tribes electing the KinGAP option and seeking to claim federal funding for children in guardianship arrangements prior to approval of the plan amendment must notify ACF of their plans to do so. They must submit a description to ACF explaining the process it will use to ensure that claims will only be submitted on behalf of children who meet all eligibility criteria for the KinGAP Program.
  • Resources from CDF on policies and programs related to Fostering Connections Act
    An array of resources by the Children's Defense Fund on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.

Training

No resources are available.