DeWine Funding

Some Colleagues and I have been holding our breaths for the news on this funding. Senator DeWine had made appropriations proposals to the U.S. Congress for funding for many projects, including a model submitted by the National Center for Adoption Law and Policy for post-placement adoptive services and programs. These services would include respite care (post-placement, organized child-care for parents who adopt needy children), support services, counseling, parenting classes, etc. for children and families after a child services adoption. We, as a society, work so hard to get these children out of abusive homes, then out of foster care, and into a permanent home. However, they still carry the same problems when they are placed in a permanent home that they developed by being abused and/or shifted around from home to home, but our "social" programs seem to end at the point of adoption. That's really not good for safe, stable families.

So, when the proposal went to committee (Labor/HHS/Education), the committee excluded the earmarks to fund this specific program. (about $1 billion worth) HOWEVER, here's what's interesting and rare--When the House received the Conference Committee's report, the House DEFEATED the committee report. That's like really unheard of! So, there's still a chance for the DeWine Funding. Keep your fingers crossed!