Fostering Connections Act and Strengthening Families Act

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act was signed into law on October 7, 2008, as Public Law 110-351. It’s many provisions includes requirements to increase Educational Stability. These requirements add travel to and from school in the foster care maintenance payment definition, adds a case plan requirement to ensure educational stability for children in foster care, and requires that the title IV-E agency ensure that each child receiving a payment under the title IV-E plan is attending school full time or has completed secondary school.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway

The Child Welfare Information Gateway has a fact sheet describing subsidies, including Federal title IV-E eligibility requirements.

  • Factsheet, The Child Welfare Information Gateway

  • Website, The Child Welfare Information Gateway


Fostering Connections: Joint Guidance for School Stability in Foster Care in Virginia
October 20, 2017

Information about Implementing Fostering Connections Act in Virginia: Fostering Connections: Joint Guidance for School Stability in Foster Care

  • Guide, Fostering Connections: Joint Guidance for School Stability in Foster Care in Virginia


Enrollment of students in foster care in Virginia

Information from Virginia Department of Education about Implementing Fostering Connections Act in Virginia: Enrollment of students in foster care.

  • Website, Enrollment of students in foster care in Virginia


Fostering Connections related to Grandparents and Other Relatives raising children

Information about Fostering Connections related to Grandparents and Other Relatives raising children.

  • Report, Fostering Connections related to Grandparents and Other Relatives raising children


Sustaining Momentum: Sustaining Educational Stability for Young People in Foster Care
October 01, 2014

Reports and information from the Legal Center on Foster Children and Education and the Annie E. Casey Foundation: Sustaining Momentum: Sustaining Educational Stability for Young People in Foster Care

  • Report, Sustaining Momentum: Sustaining Educational Stability for Young People in Foster Care


How the IDEA and the Fostering Connections Act can Work Together to Ensure School Stability and Seamless Transitions for Children with Disabilities in the Child Welfare System 
September 01, 2012

From the Legal Center on Foster Children and Education and the Annie E. Casey Foundation: How the IDEA and the Fostering Connections Act can Work Together to Ensure School Stability and Seamless Transitions for Children with Disabilities in the Child Welfare System

  • Report, How the IDEA and the Fostering Connections Act can Work Together to Ensure School Stability and Seamless Transitions for Children with Disabilities in the Child Welfare System 


Fostering Success in Education: National Fact Sheet on the Educational Outcomes of Children in Foster Care
January 01, 2014

From the Legal Center on Foster Children and Education and the Annie E. Casey Foundation: Fostering Success in Education: National Fact Sheet on the Educational Outcomes of Children in Foster Care

  • Report, Fostering Success in Education: National Fact Sheet on the Educational Outcomes of Children in Foster Care


Schools as Mandatory Partners in Ensuring Educational Stability

From the Legal Center on Foster Children and Education and the Annie E. Casey Foundation: Schools as Mandatory Partners in Ensuring Educational Stability

  • Report, Schools as Mandatory Partners in Ensuring Educational Stability


Fostering Connection letter
May 30, 2014

The joint ED and HHS Letter to Chief State School Officers and Child Welfare Directors on Implementing the Fostering Connections Act.

 

  • Document, Fostering Connection letter


Children in foster care from the US Department of Education

Information about children in foster care from the US Department of Education.

 

  • Website, Children in foster care from the US Department of Education


Fostering Connections from the Children’s Defense Fund

Information and links about Fostering Connections from the Children’s Defense Fund.

  • Website, Fostering Connections from the Children’s Defense Fund


Fostering Connections from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

General information about Fostering Connections Act from the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

  • Website, Fostering Connections from the Child Welfare Information Gateway