The Child Welfare System Has Greatly Over The Last 40 Years

The child welfare system has developed greatly over the last 40 years. This system provides a variety of services to help protect the well being of children in need. One of the services provided through the State is the Foster Care Program. Like any other government program, the State must meet certain requirements to receive Federal funding. The components of the Foster Care Program are found in Title IV Part E of the Social Security Act. There is also a clear purpose and impact that Title IV Part E has had both federally and locally. It has greatly changed the Foster Care Program and opened many opportunities for the foster care process. Title IV Part E is labeled â€Å"Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦In the foster care process, it is a priority to either preserve the family or to eventually reunify the family. This also includes attempts to keep siblings together in placement of homes. If the siblings are sep arated, then â€Å"frequent visitation† must be provided. If the court determines the child’s parents are unfit to provide, then a permanency plan must be made and a hearing must be held within 30 days. A child should always be placed in a timely manner. When developing a permanency plan, family members should be the first priority for placement. If no family member is able to provide for the child, then the State should seek out a non-relative permanency plan. Before placement occurs, the foster parents must be adequately trained with the appropriate skill sets and knowledge base. Another factor that must be established before placement is if the child requires special needs or medical attention, then health insurance coverage must be provided. The child must also be enrolled in schooling if they are of age, unless a specific condition exempts the child from doing so. Near the end of this section it states that every person has the opportunity to become a fost er parent and there should be no discrimination throughout the foster care process. Finally the State must inform foster or adoptive parents of â€Å"any potential eligibility for Federal Tax