[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 141 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES IMPROVEMENT AND INNOVATION ACT

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss my strong 
support for the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation 
Act that the Finance Committee approved yesterday. This is an important 
bipartisan and bicameral bill that deserves to pass and become law. I 
am proud to be a cosponsor and I congratulate Chairman Baucus and 
Ranking Member Hatch for their leadership on the important issue of 
adoption and prevention services for vulnerable children.
  Over the years, I have been proud of the Finance Committee's 
bipartisan work to encourage adoption and improve child welfare 
services for our most vulnerable children, those who are at risk of 
abuse and neglect in their own homes. It is inspiring to know that, 
even now, members can come together to work on such critical issues. 
Bipartisan bills like this one may not attract headlines, but the 
policies and programs can change the lives of children and families.
  This package continues previous investments in children and families, 
and it makes improvements on what lessons have been learned over the 
past 5 years. I am proud that the legislation continues to invest in 
the court improvement program that is making such a difference in West 
Virginia, and the country. Our judges are an essential partnership in 
the child welfare system because they decide when a child can return 
home safely or if adoption is the better permanency plan for a child. 
It is a difficult decision to make. Judges deserve specialized training 
in child development and trauma to help in their decision because this 
is not always provided at law school, but it is a critical factor in 
such cases. I am proud of our State training on trauma. The bill also 
continues the competitive grant program to combat substance abuse and 
to evaluate the grants so we make wise investments in the future. The 
bill invests in caseworker visits because such visits are the basics of 
good practice and essential for child safety and care.
  As a former Governor, I support providing waiver authority for states 
to continue to try innovative programs. Under previous waivers, it 
became clear that kinship care was a good option for many children in 
the foster care system. I hope that our States will be creative in 
using this new opportunity to provide guidance for additional child 
welfare reform that is truly needed.

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