FIRST REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 53
95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CORCORAN (Sponsor), OXFORD, CARTER, PACE, SCHIEFFER, ENGLUND AND McDONALD (Co-sponsors).
Whereas, the federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 established the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program which replaced the former Independent Living Program and expanded services for former foster care youth ages 18 to 21; and
Whereas, under the Chafee Program, independent living services are provided to young people ages 14 - 21 to assist them as they transition from foster care to adulthood; and
Whereas, as of December 31, 2008, there were 3,501 youths between the ages of 14 and 21 in the custody of the Children's Division. These young people do not have parents or family to turn to after they leave the state's foster care system; and
Whereas, in recent years, Missouri has averaged approximately 9200 children in foster care each year and in any given year, approximately 1.7% of those who have aged out of foster care enter prison at an average cost to the state of $16,432 per year, resulting in more than $2.5 million each year in state resources expended on them in the correction system, so that failure to address the problems of aging out has a clear social cost; and
Whereas, one of the unique needs and challenge for the state is maximizing resources to support these young people in transitioning into successful adult roles and responsibilities after leaving the state's foster care system; and
Whereas, the Missouri Aging Out Task Force, consisting of 17 members from public state agencies and private business, was established in August 2008 to "assess and tackle the critical and unique needs of young Missourians coming of age in the state's care as foster children"; and
Whereas, six core areas have been identified for intervention: education, employment, lifelong connections, support for transition to adulthood, health, and cross system collaboration; and
Whereas, the Task Force was requested to develop a three-year plan, including potential legislative priorities, strategies to promote and expand existing resources, and additional training for those dedicated to helping Missouri teenagers as they approach aging out; and
Whereas, with the submission of the final report of the Task Force, it is imperative that the work of the Task Force in making recommendations and developing a three-year plan be continued and built upon; and
Whereas, the Missouri General Assembly has a vital role in establishing legislative priorities and enacting enabling legislation as needed to implement the recommendations and plan of the Task Force; and
Whereas, with the enactment of the federal Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001, payments were made available to the states to implement the Education and Training Opportunity Program which makes available opportunities for youth to receive postsecondary education and training; and
Whereas, currently, the Children's Division uses the Chafee Program funds to contract with providers throughout the state. The providers work with case managers, foster parents, and youth and are responsible for local program coordination, service delivery, community resource development, ongoing consultation and education to staff and foster parents; and
Whereas, among the services provided, the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiatice (JCYOI) is a partnership with Jackson County Children's Division. JCYOI is a national endeavor to assist youth in foster care in making successful transitions to self-sufficiency and independence. JCYOI's goal is to bring together people and resources needed to assist youth in making the necessary contacts they need for employment, education, housing, health care, and supportive personal and community connections; and
Whereas, JCYOI began partnering with Missouri in December 2001 in the Kansas City area. The Children's Division continues to work with JCYOI to accomplish three key strategies: youth leadership boards, community partner boards, and Opportunity Passports; and
Whereas, the Opportunity Passport is designed to organize resources and create opportunities for foster and aftercare youth by assisting youth in accumulating assets and direct experience with money management. Youth who are selected to receive a Passport receive an individual development account (IDA), a personal debit account, and a variety of available community services at reduced rates or obtain preferential treatment; and
Whereas, these services should be available to all youth and young people transitioning from foster care to adulthood; and
Whereas, state agencies, community partners, and national foundations and initiatives need to be developed and implemented on a statewide basis:
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-fifth General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, that the recommendations and plan of the Missouri Aging Out Task Force should be reviewed, implemented, and built upon to ensure that all foster children have the opportunity to receive services as they transition from foster care to adulthood; and
Be it further resolved that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate appoint a Joint Interim Committee on Foster Care Transition that is authorized to function during the legislative interim between the First and Second Regular Sessions of the Ninety-fifth General Assembly to comprehensively study and make recommendations regarding expanding foster care transitional services and increasing funding for programs such as Opportunity Passport and educational savings accounts; and
Be it further resolved that the Joint Interim Committee shall prepare a final report, together with its recommendations for any legislative action deemed necessary for submission to the General Assembly prior to commencement of the Second Regular Session of the Ninety-fifth General Assembly; and
Be it further resolved that the Joint Interim Committee may solicit input and information necessary to fulfill its obligations, including but not limited to soliciting input and information from any state department or agency the Joint Interim Committee deems relevant, schools, foster parents, child advocates, the courts, and the general public; and
Be it further resolved that the staffs of House Research, the Joint Committee on Legislative Research, and Senate Research shall provide such legal, research, clerical, technical, and bill drafting services as the Joint Interim Committee may require in the performance of its duties; and
Be it further resolved that the actual and necessary expenses of the Joint Interim Committee, its members, and any staff assigned to the Joint Interim Committee incurred by the Joint Interim Committee shall be paid by the Joint Contingent Fund.
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