This document provides information and guidance for foster youth and alumni participating in a legislative visit to advocate for changes to federal child welfare policy. It discusses two relevant bills, the roles and strategies for meetings with legislators, and tips for effectively sharing personal stories.

1. We
CSCC Scholar Network

2. CSCC Scholars
Preparation for D.C.
Federal Legislation: How It Works, and Two
Examples
► Family First Prevention Services Act
► Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act
Roles During Legislative Visits
► Role Play
► Circle Diagram
► Group Work and Reporting Out
Homework
► Strategic Sharing

3. Alumni of Care Together
Improving Outcomes Now
We bring together the voices of foster care youth,
alumni and allies, to create lasting change and
generate hope for current and former foster youth,
based on access to resources, ally support and alumni
expertise.

4. Six years of bringing
foster care youth and alumni
to DC
Three Days On the Hill

5. 2018 Participants

6. Federal vs. State vs. Local Legislation
• Federal laws are rules that apply throughout the United
States. These laws apply in every state, such as
• Each state has its own system of laws and courts that
handle state matters, including welfare, public
assistance and Medicaid.
• Local laws: Counties, cities, and municipalities within a
state often have their own system of laws and courts that
handle rent laws, zoning and local safety.

7. Who Can Introduce a Bill?
A bill can come from a variety of sources:
• Individual citizens
• Special interest groups (lobbyists)
• Corporations (lobbyists)
• Non-governmental organizations
Only a member of Congress can introduce the bill.
A bill can start in either House.

8. 1. A bill is introduced
2. The bill is assigned to a committee for consideration.
3. A subcommittee considers the bill, marks it up and reports out, by
majority vote.
4. The full committee considers the bill, marks it up and reports out, by
majority vote.
5. The bill goes to the House floor for a vote by all members. Members can
offer amendments. A final majority vote passes or fails to pass the bill.
6. The bill is sent to the Senate where it goes through steps 2-5 as
outlined above.
7. After both houses of Congress pass their versions of the bill, a
Conference Committee is appointed to resolve the differences between the
House and Senate versions of the bill.
8. The Conference Committee’s version of the bill is reported back to the
House and Senate for their consideration.
9. After passage of the Conference bill, in identical form by both the House
and the Senate, the bill goes to the President for his consideration. The
president either signs or vetoes the bill.
10. Congress can override a Presidential veto by a 2/3 vote of both
houses.
How A Bill Becomes A Law

9. How A Bill Becomes A Law

11. Historic Child Welfare Reform Efforts
1997 Adoption and Safe
Families Act
• Clarified “reasonable efforts” by emphasizing
children’s health and safety
• Sets a time limit to avoid children languishing in
care (12 months, 24 months)
1999 Foster Care
Independence Act
• Chafee funding and independent living classes
• Requires states to contribute a 20% match for
Independent Living program funds, and use
federal training funds to prepare foster parents to
train teens for Independent Living
• Gives states the option to extend Medicaid for
foster youth until age 21
2008 Fostering Connections to
Success and Increasing
Adoptions Act
• Gives states the option to extend IV-E foster care
supports until age 21
• Mandates 90-day transition plan with youth input
• Requires that case plans include a plan for
ensuring the educational stability of the child in
foster care

12. Federal Funds for Child Welfare
Title IV-E
Foster Care Maintenance,
Adoption Assistance, and
Guardianship Assistance
• The Children’s Bureau provides these funds to states,
as an open-ended entitlement, on a formula basis to
provide reimbursement for a portion of the costs of
providing foster care, adoption assistance, and, if
elected by the State or Tribe, guardianship assistance
to eligible children
Chafee funds
Chafee Foster Care
Independence Program
(CFCIP)
• These programs are funded under Title IV-E on a
formula, fixed-grant basis to assist States in providing
services and supports that help foster youth acquire
the training and skills needed for self-sufficiency.
ETV
Education and Training
Voucher Program
• Ohio’s ETV funds are administered through Foster
Care 2 Success, but the funding ultimately comes
from Title IV-E.

13. Federal Financing for Child Welfare
1. Federal Registration is passed
2. Children’s Bureau provides guidance.
3. Children’s Bureau disperses funds.
4. States develop programs and policies.
5. Children’s Bureau monitors State service.
► The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting
System (AFCARS): Annual Assessment Review
► National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD)
1. Children’s Bureau reports to Congress.

15. Two Bills to be Familiar With…
1. Family First Prevention Services Act:
This bill has been passed into law. Need to make sure our
voices are included in implementation.
2. Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act:
This bill was created BY Ohio foster care youth/alumni.
It hasn’t been passed into law yet. We are still fighting for it.

16. Family First Act (Law)
Extending
Eligibility for
Resources
This new federal law allows states to:
• Extend Chaffee funds until age 23
• ETV funds until age 26
Accountability
(or lose $$$)
This new federal law:
• Requires groups homes and residential
placements to be Qualified Residential Treatment
Programs in order to be eligible for Title IV-E
foster care maintenance payments

17. Fostering Stable Housing
Opportunities Act
This bill costs
nothing
If passed, this bill would do two things:
• Early Application: Youth in foster care would be
able to apply for housing assistance upon
reaching 16 years of age, prior to aging out of
foster care.
“Government created
homelessness
deserves a
government created
solution”
• Priority Preference: When a young person
reaches the point 6 months prior to aging out of
foster care, he or she would automatically jump
to the front of the waitlist for housing supports.

18. Roles During Legislative Visits
1. Introduce the Group: (name of group, name and county of
each youth, and which youth is that particular legislator’s
constituent)
2. Overview/Background Information: (the problem)
3. Personal Story: (why it matters to you)
4. Statistics: (how this story fits into the big picture)
5. What You Are Asking For: (simple, clear request)
6. Thanks for Your Time and Packet of Information (fact
sheets, talking points, contact information)

19. Circle
Diagram

20. Circle Diagram

21. Strategic Sharing:
Choose ~ Connect ~ Claim
1. Risks and benefits of sharing your personal story.
2. Self-disclosure is like clothing.
3. Risk of “sharer’s remorse”
4. Think of it like puzzle pieces, and decide which parts to
share, in order to make your case effectively.
5. Prepare, practice, and stay focused on the specific
message you want to bring home to your listeners.
6. Media: “if it bleeds, it leads”
7. How to redirect if needed (examples)
8. What to do if your emotions come to the surface.