Relates to the definition of family for purposes of services provided by voluntary foster care agency health facilities

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic6
• Republican1

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Gustavo Rivera says this is needed

Voluntary Foster Care Agencies (VFCAs) play a critical role in meeting the complex needs of children, youth, and families involved in the child welfare system. These agencies provide a broad range of support, includ- ing trauma-informed medical and behavioral health care for children and youth in foster care, through Article 29-I licensed clinic settings. VFCAs also work collaboratively toward achieving permanency for children in care by engaging with birth parents, foster parents, and extended kin networks. Through these interactions, staff frequently become aware of the clinical or behavioral health needs affecting the entire family system. However, access to care for these families is often hindered by frag- mented State service systems and the limited availability of community- based resources. Expanding VFCA authority under Article 29-I to provide clinical services to family members of children and youth in foster care (when appropriate and within available capacity) would support family stability by addressing conditions that may compromise the safety and well-being of the home environment; reduce out-of-home care durations by strengthening family functioning; and promote holistic family wellness through improved service coordination. Such an expansion would also help alleviate pressure on other public systems and enhance the State's overall capacity for mental and behav- ioral health service delivery. Under this proposal, VFCAs would only be authorized to provide and bill for Article 29-I services that fall with- in their existing licensure and are deemed medically necessary for a family member's treatment. All practitioners would operate strictly within their respective scopes of practice. The provision of services to this expanded population would remain voluntary, and children and youth in foster care would continue to have priority in accessing Article 29-I health services.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.