Bill to encourage more adoptions goes to president

The U.S. Senate passed on Sept. 22 the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (HR 6893). The House had passed the measure on Sept. 17 and the bill now awaits signature by President Bush. Once signed, the legislation will, among other things, provide:

• Financial Assistance to relatives of children for whom they have cared for as adoptive parents and legal guardians.
• Bonuses to states that increase the number of children adopted out of foster care.
• Better oversight within the foster care system.
• Support for children in foster care pursuing an education, job training or work up to age 21.

The bill would provide American Indian tribes, whose children are overrepresented in the U.S. child welfare system, resources to enable them to better care for their own in the communities where the children live. The legislation also would build on the current federal Adoption Incentives Program, increasing incentives for the adoption of children out of foster care, especially older children.