Legislative News
IFAPA Legislative Breakfast
Every year, IFAPA hosts a Legislative Breakfast at the Iowa State Capitol. This event allows foster, adoptive and kinship families to meet their legislators and discuss the importance of supporting issues affecting families and children. The 2010 Legislative Breakfast was held on February 16th. The 2011 IFAPA Legislative Breakfast date and time will be scheduled in the fall of 2010.
Didn't attend IFAPA's Legislative Breakfast?
If you were not able to attend the IFAPA Legislative Breakfast, but want a chance to speak with one of your legislators, consider attending a local legislative forum or town hall meeting in your area. You can find a list of upcoming dates and locations at the following link. If you are not able to attend a meeting, consider sending them an e-mail or a letter.
2010 Legislative Forums and Town Hall Meetings
Tips for Attending a Legislative Forum
Legislative Tips from IFAPA (How to communicate with legislators)
Sample Letter to a Legislator
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Recent Legislative News
January 2010
Letter from IFAPA Executive Director
This year Iowa faces a record budget shortfall. Iowa legislators will face a daunting task to try and provide services to so many in need with such limited funding. Children must remain a priority of our state. Children in the child welfare system are some of the most vulnerable children in Iowa. IFAPA will continue to work to be a voice for children and families, but we need your help.
In these tough financial times it is imperative that IFAPA members keep their legislators informed on the issues facing children in their care. Sharing specific information such as: how adoption subsidy has made a difference for your child; how a child has blossomed with the structure and consistency of foster care; how your family has been able to work with birth parents to return a child home; how a training taught you how to parent a difficult teen—all tell the story of the importance of funding for foster care and adoption programs...Read Full Letter
November 2009
The Governor’s Executive Order for State Department Budget Cuts
The Department of Human Services is aware that many foster and adoptive parents have heard of the across the board 10% budget cuts directed by the Governor’s Executive order. In order to implement the Department’s required reduction, all budget items were reviewed and careful thought was put into making decisions that would be the least disruptive to children and families. To meet the required reduction, a 5% across the board rate reduction of foster care, adoption subsidy and subsidized guardianship payments has been approved by the Governor. Also, reductions to the clothing allowance for foster children, suspending new requests for special services subsidies, and nonrecurring expenses for adoptive families received the Governor’s approval. These reductions will be effective January 1, 2010 once final administrative rules are approved on December 9, 2009 through the rule making process.
If the reductions are approved through the rule making process, foster and adoptive parents and subsidized guardians should expect to receive a Notice of Decision after December 15 concerning the child who is receiving a foster care maintenance, adoption subsidy, or subsidized guardianship payment. The reduction applies to maintenance and any difficulty of care payments the child receives.
Payments for nonrecurring expenses related to finalizing adoptions for adoptive families will be capped at a total of $500 per child for attorney fees and other related legal expenses. Payment for new special services subsidy will be suspended until 6/30/10.
Clothing allowance will be reduced from $250 to $237.50 for the initial clothing allowance and for the additional clothing allowance during a calendar year reduced from $200 to $190 for family foster care when the child needs clothing to replace lost clothing or because of growth or weight change and the child does not have escrow funds to cover the cost.
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