Governor’s Budget Threatens Adoption of Children with Severe Disabilities in Pursuit of Dubious Cost-Savings |
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If this proposal passes, instead of finding their way
into loving and permanent adoptive homes, foster children with severe
disabilities will languish in long term foster care and ultimately in
institutions -at far greater costs to the state- as prospective adoptive
families will be unable to afford the high level of care and supports they require.
Families who choose to adopt despite insufficient funding will be left to
struggle to meet the daily needs of these severely disabled children. The Governor’s budget proposes that all children in the
Adoption Assistance Program receive a flat rate of $2006 a month, regardless
of the level of disability. In many cases, this would cut in half the subsidy
families are now receiving for children with the most severe disabilities.
These children have serious conditions including significant mental retardation,
autism and Down Syndrome, while others may be non-ambulatory, unable to care
for themselves or require G-tube feeding and respirators. Child protection and advocacy groups agree that with the
largest number of foster care children in the nation, Additionally, the proposal violates current law that
requires individualized AAP rate determinations for each child, so that those
who need more funds for care and supervision receive them. We are in staunch opposition to this proposal, which we believe is bad policy backed by worse data. We urge the Governor to review the data and rescind this ill-conceived proposal. |
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The Alliance for Children’s Rights |
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Laura Streimer Legal Director The 213.368.6010 |
Evelyn Abouhassan Senior Legislative Advocate Protection & Advocacy, Inc |
Karen Ullman Senior Staff Attorney Public Counsel |