Provider Watch - February 26, 2009 - Legislative Quick Takes for Child Welfare Providers

U.S. House Passes Bill that Targets Child Abuse and Neglect in Residential Treatment Centers - The House voted overwhelmingly last night in support of H.R. 911, the "Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009." The bill, introduced by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-MA) and Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), passed by a bipartisan vote of 205-102. "Today the House took a critical step toward finally ending this culture of abuse and neglect at residential programs for teens," Miller stated. Added Representative McCarthy, "...there are many good places that children go to, but these are the ones that obviously need to be regulated."

The legislation would require the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement 14 minimum standards to protect against child abuse in residential programs, including prohibition of disciplinary techniques such as withholding food and water, and promotion of seclusion and restraint-free programs. Additionally, the bill would establish on-going state review processes for investigating reports of child abuse, a national toll-free hotline to report abuses, civil penalties of no more than $50,000 per violation for programs that violate the standards and processes to review the complaints collected by the hotline. Most of the requirements, are presently met in current regulation in Georgia. 

G-Force Meeting Looks at Permanency Data - The handouts given in the G-Force Meeting shows how serious DHR is about finding permanent and stable families for children in the child welfare system.  Most all outcomes point to family permanency with loving families as of the highest priority for DHR.   http://www.gahsc.org/nm/2009/dhrgforce20090226.pdf

Department of Behavioral Health - The final shape of HB228, the  Restructuring of the Department of Human Resources bill has not been determined.  The Department of Behavioral Health is receiving much support for its final shape as explained in a PowerPoint by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases

First Look at FY2009 Amended Budget - Two items of special interest to our Providers had to do with the rates paid to Child Placing Agencies and Education Funding.  We have had some measure of success with both.  The House Subcommittee reviewing these items have made their recommendations to the Full Committee.  They modified the cuts in rates to CPA's by 25%.  In other words, they reduced the proposed cut to CPA's by $400,000.  The planned rate cuts would be reduced by 25%.  This is less than we had asked for but will be some relief to our Basic and Traditional CPA Providers.  We will be working with the Senate to see if we can get further relief for our providers. 

Our Education Funding for Residential Treatment Facilities was unchanged from the Governor's proposal which included a 10% cut.  We expect no changes in the final full House Appropriations Committee Recommendations for the FY09 Budget. 
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Catalyst for CARE Annual Conference April 27-29, 2009

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