U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) on Nov. 5 cosponsored bipartisan, bicameral legislation to guide states in reforming their child welfare systems.
The congresswoman introduced the Family First Transition Act, H.R. 4980, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) to help states, tribes, counties, and cities implement the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), which was signed into law in February 2018.
“The bipartisan Family First law will transform the child welfare system into one that prioritizes the needs of children and families so fewer kids need to enter foster care,” said Rep. Walorski, ranking member on the U.S. House Ways and Means Worker and Family Support Subcommittee. “The next step is the Family First Transition Act, which will give states the time and resources they need to implement evidence-based solutions that help at-risk children and keep families together.”
If enacted, the measure would support states in providing evidence-based services to prevent children from entering foster care and help states place children with foster families instead of in group homes, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Walorski’s office.
The bill also would build upon the FFPSA by providing one-time funding to all states to help implement the bill; and would phase in a requirement that 50 percent of spending on foster care prevention be on programs meeting the highest level of evidence, according to the summary.
Rep. Walorski on Tuesday hosted Rep. Davis, who is chairman of the subcommittee, in Indiana to discuss child welfare and workforce development issues and to unveil H.R. 4980.
“The new Family First Prevention Services Act has the potential to transform lives by reaching out to address the reasons families are struggling and strengthen them, rather than separating them,” Rep. Davis said. “The Family First Transition Act will make sure states, including my home state of Illinois, are fully able to do this hard but important work.”
Among the 11 other members who joined Rep. Walorski as original cosponsors of H.R. 4980 were U.S. Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Ron Estes (R-KS), and Don Bacon (R-NE).