Category: Kathleen's Posts

The high societal and financial costs of over medicating our nation’s foster youth

Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs held a hearing on the high societal and financial costs of over medicating our nation’s foster youth.    CCAI would like to commend Chairman Thomas Carper and Ranking Member Scott Brown for their leadership in addressing such an important issue.  While the findings of the GAO are shocking to say the least, it is sadly not surprising to learn that youth in our Nation’s foster care are being victimized in this way.  We not only can, but we must, do better.  Issues such as the overuse of psychotropic drugs and the lack of quality mental health care are ones that have come up time and time again in the past four years of Foster Youth Intern Reports.  These wise young leaders have identified several factors which contribute to the disturbing trends revealed by yesterday’s hearing.

First, it is important to bear in mind how the federal government currently finances the foster care system.  Under the law today, states on average receive a high level of reimbursement for a child who has special needs and for children who are in congregate care.  The rationale behind such policies is that it stands to reason that the care of such children would in fact be higher than a child without special needs or who could be cared for in an individual family.  Yet, without proper screening methods and controls, it is quite possible for states to improperly label children so that they can receive the highest level of funds available for the care of a child.  This is not to suggest that states are purposely lying about the needs kids have, but there is evidence to suggest that financing and budget decisions are playing a role in the care decisions being made on their behalf.

Secondly, many CCAI Foster Youth Interns (FYIs) report that their experience in receiving mental health services while in foster care was suboptimal.  They are right to point out that the professionals (doctors, therapists, etc.) they are in the care of are often new to the profession and least likely to be trained in state of the art treatments specific to the needs of youth in care.  This is due in part to the fact that they are most often receiving these services through Medicaid.  So in essence, these kids, who are acknowledged by all to have some of the most complex mental health issues to grapple with, are being treated by those least likely to have the training and skills necessary to treat them.

Thirdly, the fact remains that there is only one foster family for every four children who need foster care.  What this means is that children in foster care are being cared for in group homes and by foster families that are often stretched to the brink.  In these settings, the use of mind altering medication can become a way to “keep control” of kids behavior.  Year in and year out, FYIs have called on the federal government to increase its efforts to promote the recruitment and training of foster parents so that each and every child can have a family to give them the love and support they need to help them heal.

And finally, as the stories of the two children profiled by Diane Sawyer yet again prove the best medicine we can give these children is the family that they need and deserve.  As Keonte said yesterday, it was his adoptive parents who made him feel safe and loved enough to sort through the issues he faced because of his past.  It was his adoptive parents who sought out the top of the line treatment that has helped him heal.  And it was his adoptive parents who sat by his side as he stood before the US Congress to demand that this no longer be the case for other children.

Keonte testifying in Congress. Photo credit: ABC News from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/boy-12-tells-congress-of-years-on-stupid-meds/

 

Catch ABC’s 20/20 special tonight continuing the story on this topic.

Kathleen’s Thanksgiving Message

On this the eve of the day that our Nation stops to give thanks for all that is good in our lives, I have been thinking of the many people that CCAI has met and partnered with over the last year.  Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, for indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Today of all days, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work with all of you–you are truly some of our world’s most amazing people and I am continually inspired by your passion and commitment to find a family for every child.  Since this is a blog, not a book, I cannot outline for you all the people who have made a difference in my life this year.  And so in the spirit of Letterman, I will just close with the “Top Ten Things I am Grateful for This Thanksgiving.”

10) For my incredible staff, who never say never.

9) For my mom and dad, who instilled in me a life long appreciation of family.

8) For my friends and family, who put up with my being an always late and often absent minded work-a-holic.

7) For Rita Soronen and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, who proved to the world there is no such thing as an unwanted child.

6) For Joshua DuBois and Michael Wear of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships who are putting new meaning behind the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child.”

5) For Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, my hero, who has always been willing to use her position and power for the benefit of the least among us.

4) For the Foster Youth Interns, all 120 of you, not a day goes by that I am not inspired by you and your passion for changing the world.

3) For the staff of the over 160 Members of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, for your willingness to work long hours for little reward and your choosing to use your voice for children without one.

2) For our funding partners, without whom, there would be no CCAI.  We strive every day to be worthy of your continued investment.

1) For Amy Corlew, 2011 Angel in Adoption, for reminding me what our work is all about!

 Happy Thanksgiving!

-Kathleen

Haiti: One Year Later

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary since the earthquake that devastated Haiti.  As we move into year two, CCAI’s report Renewed Promise: The Welfare of Children in Haiti highlights lessons learned from the emergency relief and recovery efforts that have taken place this past year, and focuses federal policymakers on the needs that continue to exist related to orphaned and vulnerable children in Haiti.

Be sure to also check out reports from other organizations:

Photo Credit: The Haiti Orphans Project

 

Russia and Guatemala: a legislative update

Guatemala

In May 2010, a large number of families representing the Guatemala 900, an advocacy network for families whose cases still await processing, came to Washington, D.C. and held a briefing for Members of Congress. During this briefing, adoptive families laid out reasons why these cases continue to be delayed as well as ways Members of Congress might act on their behalf. Motivated by the passion and commitment of these families, several members including Senators Boxer (D-CA), Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator Feingold (D-WI) have been actively engaged in efforts to unite these families with their children. In late June, 76 Members signed a letter to President Colom and three other high ranking officials asking for them to take immediate action to resolve these cases.

Russia

Over the past several months, the U.S. State Department has been involved in negotiations with officials in Russia . These negotiations have been focused on coming to a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on additional safeguards that can be put in place to better protect adopted children and their families. For the most part, the dialogue between the two countries, has been positive and it is hoped a final agreement can be reached and signed soon. The events leading up to the current situation in Russia, most notably the case of the 8 year old returned to Russia by his adoptive mom, has prompted Members of Congress to introduce legislation to strengthen pre- and post-adoption support services for American adoptive families. The Supporting Adoptive Families Act (introduced by Senators Landrieu (D-LA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Brownback (R-KY) and Johnson (D-SD) would develop and expand training and resources for families adopting domestically or internationally, ensuring that both parents and children have the assistance and care they need to remain together. The bill would also address the current shortage of adoption services available to families prior to and following adoptions.

Immigration, Accreditation, and Intercountry Adoption

In continuing with our series of legislative updates on international adoption, read below to learn about immigration and accreditation:

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has been working on passing a piece of legislation entitled the “International Adoption Simplification Act” (S. 1376). Under current law, children adopted from non-Hague countries are able to waive certain immigration-related immunization requirements. Also, children adopted from non-Hague countries who are between the ages of 16 and 18 are eligible for an orphan visa so long as they are being adopted as part of a sibling group. Under Klobuchar’s bill, adoptees adopted from Hague countries would be afforded these same protections. S. 1376 passed the Senate on July 26, 2010 and has been sent to the House for its consideration.  On June 21st, 2010, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the “International Adoption Harmonization Act” which allows an adopted child to legally immigrate so long as the adoption is completed and the petition is filed before the child turns 18.  This bill would also allow children adopted from Hague countries to be exempted from certain immigration related vaccination requirements. This bill passed the House of Representatives on July 20th, 2010 and is awaiting Senate consideration.

Over the last year, several Members of Congress, most notably Senators Lugar (R-IN), Landrieu (D-LA) and Inhofe (R-OK) and Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) have been studying the issue of fraud and abuse within intercountry adoption. In an effort to better understand this issue, these members have held several meetings and community-wide discussions about the degree to which corruption is a part of the current system and ways that federal law might be used as a shield against such abuses. As a result of these efforts, Congressman Albio Spires has announced his intent to sponsor legislation that would require all adoption agencies, regardless of whether they work in a Hague or Non-Hague country, to be accredited by the U.S. State Department. Often referred to as “universal accreditation,” such a proposal would do away with the dualtrack system currently in place in the United States and replace it with a universal system of standards.

What’s new in international adoption?

The months leading up to the annual August recess are always very busy ones, most especially in the second session of Congress.  This year is no exception.  Congress’ hefty agenda the past few months involving health care, the financial sector, and oil spill response has not stopped Congressional leaders in adoption from pursuing introduction and passage of key international adoption measures nor deterred them from fulfilling promises to serve as advocates for adoptive parents hoping to adopt from Guatemala, Russia, Uganda, and Nepal.

Check back over the next 2 weeks for a series of posts focused on individual countries and international adoption in general.  Read below for our first post on one of the many initiatives that have been underway on Capitol Hill in recent months.

Haiti

According to the most recent figures from USCIS, approximately 1300 Haitian children were approved to enter the U.S. as part of the Agency’s post-earthquake humanitarian parole policy. The immigration of these children into the United States has thus far required that USCIS employ a series of policies and procedures most often used when addressing the needs unaccompanied alien children.

The Administration has done everything they can within the existing letter of the law to put these children into the position they would have been had the earthquake never occurred.  Motivated by this same goal, Congressman Fortenberry (R-NE) and Senators Gillibrand (D-NY) and Inhofe (R-OK) introduced legislation entitled “Helping Haitian Immigrants to Immigrate Immediately Act” or the HELP Haiti Act (HR 5283/S. 3411). This bill allows the nearly 1300 children who after the earthquake entered the United States for the purpose of adoption to become legal permanent residents. Without this legislation these children and their families would be subject to a two to four year immigration process and in the interim would be deprived of the benefits of having a permanent status in the United States.

Families who are in the process of adopting these children have already faced issues with adding these children to their health insurance, enrolling in school, and obtaining other benefits which are based on immigration status.  This bill passed the House of Representatives on July 20, 2010 and was agreed to by unanimous consent in the Senate on August 4, 2010.