Looking for something you previously found on this page?
Check our Archives.
May 2010: MFCAA Advocates Working For you in Washington, D.C.
MFCAA staff members, Lori Ross and Mary LeFebvre, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. along with Nikkie Steinhoff of the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition in St. Louis, as a part of a national coalition of adoption advocates, The Community Champions Network of the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC).
While there, your MFCAA staff attended trainings on national issues facing foster/adoptive children and the people who care for them, and spoke with Missouri Representatives and Senators sharing critical information with them on the need for post adoptive services for children. |
Left: NACAC-CCN Director, Kim Stevens, speaks with CCN Representatives from several States during training May 15, 2010. |
Right: Nikkie Steinhoff-FACC St. Louis, Lori Ross- MFCAA, Mary LeFebvre- MFCAA, and Liz Ross prepare for our trip to the Capitol to meet with Missouri Senators and Reps. |
Legislation
Midwest Foster Care & Adoption Association
2010 Legislative Priorities
Define the Missouri State Foster Care and Adoption Board in statute.
- This board should serve as a review body for Children’s Division policies related to the provision of foster care and adoption services to children and families.
- The board (comprised of foster and adoptive parents from every area of the state of Missouri) should work in partnership with the Children’s Division’s Central Office to both draft and review policy changes in current foster care and adoption processes.
- This would provide the Children’s Division with more “real-time” information and help increase communication between the Children’s Division and the foster care community, resulting in better coordination of care for foster children.
Revise the current Foster Parent’s Bill of Rights (RSMO 210.566) to strengthen provisions related to the rights of siblings to be placed together in foster and adoptive care, and to strengthen provisions to ensure the professional treatment of Missouri foster parents.
Protect funding for foster care maintenance and adoption subsidy for families caring for Missouri’s abused and neglected children.
Protect funding for Adoption Resource Centers.
- There are only two of these centers in Missouri: Midwest Foster Care & Adoption Association in Kansas City and the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition in St. Louis
- Should receive credits under Children in Crisis and may be able to divert some CD funding for recruitment toward ARCs to address issues of recruitment and retention.
Protect the Privacy of Children in Foster Homes
- Revise the foster home licensing statutes to exclude foster parent’s records form those considered open under Missouri’s Sunshine Laws, unless opened by an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
Empower the Office of the Child Advocate
- Add the authority for this office to legally intervene in specific child abuse/neglect actions, when the interests of the children subject to an OCA investigation warrant this type of intervention for the child’s protection or best interest.
- Missouri Health Net
- Continue to work to protect adequate and accessible physical and mental health treatment for children in foster care and adoptive homes
Contact Your Legislators
Find your Legisalators (if you don't already know who to contact)
Find your Senator's Contact Info (if you know who your Sentaor is)
Find your Rep's Contact Info (if you know who your Rep is)
Example Email & Phone Message
