A Collaborative Win For Foster Families!
Alaska’s foster care system is a critical support for children, youth, and families.* Last week, Alaska’s foster care families saw a huge win – the Department of Family and Community Services (DFCS) and the Department of Health (DOH) worked together to ensure that child care costs for foster families will be covered at the maximum rate through June 30, 2025.
This important decision to extend funding reflects a shared commitment to supporting Alaska’s families. ACT commends both Departments as well as advocates like Rabbi Abram Goodstein, who helped bring this issue to light and was a passionate advocate for the collaboration that led to this change.
When families have access to reliable, affordable, and safe child care programs, they are better positioned to thrive. Child care allows caregivers to attend work, helps children’s brains and social skills develop, and access even furthers our economy. Foster families who have a child in their home are allotted a monthly reimbursement that pays for the needs of the child in their care. With a short supply of foster parents in our state and on average over 3,000 children waiting for a placement each month, the support of child care assistance may keep opportunities open for families that may otherwise not be able to care for a child in the foster care system.
“I’m proud that the DFCS and the DOH have committed to helping the most vulnerable Alaskans in our state. Children in foster care have a right to quality early education and it’s up to Alaskans to prioritize this right for our youth. So they can grow up to be successful Alaskans.”
The Background
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, if a child care provider charged more than the child care assistance rate, foster families had to pay those additional costs. Then, during the pandemic, federal funds helped alleviate this need and filled the gap to cover the full cost of child care for foster families. That federal funding is scheduled to end on June 30th, putting foster families in a position where they would need to pay additional costs for child care. Thankfully, both the DFCS and DOH have shown their commitment to caring for Alaska’s children and are reprioritizing resources to ensure that foster families do not need to pay for additional child care costs. The Departments have also stated in a letter to families that they will be actively working during the next 12 months to identify sustainable solutions to provide this support long-term.
What This Means for Foster Parents
◾ CCPO and OCS will continue their partnership to provide child care subsidies for children in foster care.
◾ CCPO will continue to pay child care providers based on the full rates they are charging for children in OCS custody.
◾ Over the coming year, DOH and DFCS will continue to work to find solutions to reduce child care cost burdens on foster families. They will inform families and child care providers as updates are available.
Thank you, Department of Health and Department of Family and Community Services, for your hard work on ensuring Alaska’s foster families are supported and their child care needs met!
*While ACT supports the reunification of families whenever possible, when there are concerns that prevent a child from being with their birth family, the foster care system is essential. Foster care provides safe homes for children and youth while their parents find help, healing, and treatment.