CWLA Cheers President Bush for Signing Child Welfare Legislation

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), Christine James Brown, today hailed President Bush's signing of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, saying the passage is an important step to improving the outcome of children in foster care.

"This is an historic moment for foster children and families. Not since the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 has this country had a bill that speaks directly to the needs of the more than 513,000 children in foster care," said James Brown. "This bill further advances the mission of the CWLA to promote the well-being of children, youth and their families".

Introduced in September by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), Chairman of the Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee, and Congressman Jerry Weller (R-IL), the bi-partisan bill promises to connect and support relative caregivers; continue federal support for children in care after age 18; ensure oversight of health care services for children in foster care; provide Indian tribes with direct access to federal funds for foster care and adoption assistance programs; and enhance incentives for adopting children in foster care and children with special needs.

The newly signed legislation makes critical changes to Title IV of the Social Security Act allowing states the use of federal funds for kinship guardianship payments for children raised by relative caregivers, creating a more permanent placement for children with family members.

For more information about the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, or to schedule an interview with CWLA's Spokeswoman Linda Spears, please call Tamainia Tanner at 703.412.2439, or email: ttanner@cwla.org.

Since 1920, The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) has been the nation's pre-eminent membership-based organization dedicated to ensuring that disadvantaged and vulnerable children are protected from harm and have the tools and resources they need to grow into the healthy and happy adults we want them to become. CWLA is the trusted authority for professionals who work with children and the only national organization with public and private member agencies working across all sectors of the children's services field.

SOURCE Child Welfare League of America

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