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Committee on Ways and Means
Subcommittee on Human Resources

For Immediate Release
September 10, 2001
Contact: Christin Tinsworth 202-225-8933

WASHINGTON – During an ‘Adoption Celebration on Capitol Hill’ attended by over 700 parents, children and advocates, Chairman Wally Herger (R-CA) of the Human Resources Subcommittee announced he will introduce the President’ s proposal to dramatically increase the funds available for adoption, foster care and post-adoptive services.

The bipartisan ‘Promoting Safe and Stable Families Act’ would send nearly 70 percent more money to state and local child welfare agencies to support families through a continuum of services – from preventing abuse and neglect to offering post-adoptive services. In addition, this legislation will help support children as they age out of foster care by making available vouchers for vocational and post-secondary education. Finally, the proposal creates a new program of mentoring children of prisoners, who are a particularly vulnerable population.

"Since 1997, we have made great progress in helping children awaiting adoption find permanent, loving homes," Chairman Herger said. "In fact, the average length of stay for children in foster care has been cut in half, and more than 70,000 children have been adopted from foster care since the ‘Adoption and Safe Families Act’ was enacted."

"And behind each of those statistics are loving families – forging lifelong bonds and facing life’s challenges together," Herger added.

"With success, comes new challenges. Parents and advocates have shared with us the struggles and triumphs of adopting children with special needs. We understand that our job is not over just because an adoption is finalized," Herger noted. "That is why we’ve increased funding for post-adoptive services and allocated resources to learn more about how to best support families adopting special needs children."

The Subcommittee on Human Resources is expected to consider the ‘Promoting Safe and Stable Families Act’ in the near future.

Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001

Safe and Stable Families:
Provides 66% increase in funds to protect children from abuse and neglect.

• Four categories of services: family preservation, family support, time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support services.
• Funds increase by total of $1 billion over 5 years (from $305 million/year to $505 million/year).

• Adds language strengthening program objectives, including safety of kids.
• Adds language designed to strengthen parental relationships and promote healthy marriages, among other family support services.

• "Reallotment" provision would allow unspent funds to be redirected to other States that need them.
• Includes targeted funds for technical assistance to States and local governments to translate research findings into useful guidance.
• Doubles funds for State Court Improvement projects.
• Doubles Indian set-asides from 1% to 2% of overall funds.

Mentoring Children of Prisoners:
Creates new program for mentoring children of prisoners, who face great challenges developing into productive citizens as one or both of their parents is incarcerated.

• Funds will go to local governments and faith and community-based organizations to establish mentoring networks of caring adults to match up with children whose parents are prisoners.

Independent Living:

Provides $300 million over five years for new education vouchers (vocational and post-secondary) for youths aging out of foster care.