On the recordMay 17, 2011
the Finance Committee has a long history of working together in a bi-partisan fashion in the interest of children in Montana and across the Nation. I am happy to have you as a partner on child welfare issues. The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 was a first step on the road to reforming the child welfare system. Today, with the introduction of the State Child Welfare Innovation Act, we take another step on the path toward making lives better for the children we serve. As the authors of this legislation, we build on the successes of waivers since they were first authorized in 1994. Since that time, these waivers have given States the flexibility needed to focus on new practices that prevent abuse and neglect and encourage permanency for children in our child welfare system. It is important for us to understand that the goal of reauthorizing child welfare waivers is not simply to develop and test new service delivery models, but to put in place sound practices that state innovation has determined to be effective in increasing positive outcomes for youth in the system. Our March 11 hearing entitled ``Innovations in Child Welfare Waivers'' continued a productive conversation and helped us to craft legislation to address some of the issues facing our Nation's most- vulnerable youth. I was happy we were able to welcome two graduates of the foster care system to share their perspectives.…
