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To: All Child Welfare Partners
The Oregon Legislature recently passed the 2021-23 budget and concluded the 2021 legislative session. The Oregon Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Division budget makes substantial investments to the Child Welfare Division’s Vision for Transformation, the workforce and the children and families we serve. Many new policies also strengthen the framework around child welfare practice, with an equity and racial justice lens at the forefront.
2021-23 Child Welfare budget priorities
The 2021-23 Child Welfare budget has total funds of $1.5 billion. This is 10.2% above the 2019-21 legislatively approved budget and 2.9% above the 2021-23 current service level. The legislatively approved budget allocates $894 million General Fund to Child Welfare. The remainder of the Child Welfare budget is Federal and Other Funds.
Child Welfare investments in the next biennium include:
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$4 million and 19 positions in the Child Welfare Training unit to enhance professional development, training and equity efforts for the Child Welfare workforce.
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$5.9 million and two positions the Independent Living Program to provide new and expanded services for young people ages 14 to 22.
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$19.4 million and one position to develop and implement a statewide foster care respite program.
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$6.1 million and 15 positions to create a Child Welfare Family Preservation program to support children and families in the community, implement Family First and 14 positions to create the Continuous Quality Improvement team.
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$10 million for state agencies, including the Oregon Department of Human Services, to establish a statewide and coordinated Family Treatment Court program.
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Staff support for the Governor’s Child Foster Care Advisory Commission and Behavior Residential Services.
2021 Child Welfare legislative priorities
New legislation that will impact practice includes:
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Bans the sale of crib bumper pads to reduce risk of sleep related infant death.
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Aligns state and federal law related to the Family First Act for the use of Qualified Residential Treatment Programs, prohibits retaliation against youth for openly sharing about their experience while receiving child welfare services and prohibits disqualification of individuals who have been involved with the child welfare system from being child welfare service providers.
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Requires Child Welfare to avoid scheduling visitation for children in foster care during the school day to the extent practicable.
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Makes technical corrections to the Oregon Indian Welfare Child Welfare Act (ORICWA). Also acknowledges tribal customary adoptions and adds Ongoing Cultural Connection and Compact Agreements post-permanency.
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Expands applicability of the Oregon Health Authority Youth Suicide Intervention and Suicide Plan to children ages 5 to 10.
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Effective upon passage, pending Governor’s signature
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Requires Child Welfare to give notice of rights to request information and seek civil remedy for negligent treatment and if requested, provide information for children who were placed in an out-of-state residential facility between January 1, 2016 to June 30, 2020 and their representatives.
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Increases regulations around the use of restraints for children in care and requires secure transport companies to be licensed as Child Caring Agencies.
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Effective upon passage pending Governor’s signature
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Requires educational consultant to be registered as referral agents with Oregon Department of Human Services.
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Please note the table above is not a comprehensive list of all the legislation that passed this session. More information will come out as we implement these new policies and practice.
These significant investments and policies will support putting the Vision for Transformation into action and positively impact the children, young adults, families and communities served by the Child Welfare Division and its partners. We are grateful to the Legislature for demonstrating their support for Child Welfare and to partners and advocates for your active role in making this happen.
We know this work could not be possible without you all. Thank you for your partnership as we work together to better serve children, families and communities. Take care of yourselves.
Rebecca Jones Gaston (she/her) Child Welfare Director
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