U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) convened a hearing on Wednesday that explored ways to protect children from the nation’s heroin epidemic.
Buchanan, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources, said that the impact of parental substance abuse on families deserves more attention as legislators develop policies to combat drug abuse.
“According to data and news reports, parental drug abuse is a leading factor in why children enter foster care,” Buchanan said. “Officials in multiple states have cited opioids, heroin, and other substances as a major reason for the increase in foster care caseloads, and federal data supports this view. In fiscal year 2014, more than 25 percent of those children found to be victims of abuse or neglect had caregivers with drug abuse problems.”
Buchanan said that the purpose of the hearing was to explore efforts that states have undertaken to combat opioid abuse and to mitigate its impacts on families and children.
“Today, we will learn about some of these approaches, including ways to serve families at home or in other settings so children can remain safely with their parents, or more quickly return home if they must enter foster care,” Buchanan said. “Florida and other states are also using data gleaned from prior child welfare cases to inform their responses to new cases, allowing them to more quickly and effectively respond to prevent tragic consequences.”
Additionally, the Senate Finance Committee has develop a draft proposal that would shift foster care funding into services that help abuse and neglect, Buchanan said.
“These reforms would encourage states to support programs that better address parental substance abuse and other issues, as well as implement programs that have proven their effectiveness in addressing the needs of parents and their children,” Buchanan said. “Today’s hearing will help us to take a close look at the Senate proposal in hopes of moving bipartisan, bicameral legislation.”
Positive steps have been taken in the House of Representatives to address the opioid epidemic, Buchanan said, and “now it’s time to turn to the kids that need help as well.”