The Joint Subcommittee on Health and Human Services of the Montana Legislature convened on February 17, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding the state's foster care system and the licensing of foster homes. The meeting highlighted the complexities of managing caseloads for social workers and the ongoing efforts to improve the licensing process for both traditional and kinship foster homes.

During the session, officials reported that in the fiscal year 2024, a total of 29 youth foster homes were licensed in under 60 days, while 33 homes took between 60 and 120 days, and 23 homes were licensed within 120 to 180 days. Notably, 18 homes took longer than six months to be licensed. The discussion emphasized the various factors influencing these timelines, including both the agency's processing capabilities and the families' readiness.

A significant focus was placed on the increasing number of kinship homes being licensed, reflecting the agency's commitment to placing children with relatives whenever possible. This approach aims to provide necessary resources to kinship caregivers, thereby enhancing the stability and support for children in foster care.

The complexity of social workers' caseloads was also a key topic. Workers often juggle multiple applications for youth and kinship homes, inquiries from potential foster families, and interstate compact requests for children placed out of state. This multifaceted workload complicates the measurement of their effectiveness and efficiency.

The meeting also addressed the budget for licensing, which has been organized into a separate reporting level for better clarity. The budget includes requests for additional holiday overtime and adjustments for inflation and personal services. The licensing function is noted for its favorable federal matching rates, which are crucial for the department's funding.

In addition to licensing, the subcommittee discussed the organizational structure of the division, which includes various bureaus focused on data management, fiscal responsibilities, training, and continuous quality improvement. The division aims to enhance its operations through better supervision and cross-training among staff to ensure continuity in services, especially in critical areas like adoption and guardianship.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing improvements in the foster care system, emphasizing the importance of effective licensing processes and the need for continuous evaluation of new procedures to ensure they meet the needs of children and families in Montana.