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CYFD requests funds for Kevin S. remediation, training academy and foster care supports
Summary
CYFD leaders asked for recurring and nonrecurring funding to meet requirements from the Kevin S. remediation order, strengthen regional response and training, and study foster parent rates amid federal funding shortfalls.
The Children's, Youth and Families Department told the Senate Finance Committee that the Kevin S. remediation order and recent federal funding shifts create immediate budget and staffing needs, and the agency requested a mix of nonrecurring technical assistance and multiyear workforce investments.
Rachel Garcia, the Legislative Finance Committee analyst for CYFD, summarized the House substitute as a largely nonrecurring package. Major items include $5.4 million (matched with federal funds) to establish a child welfare training academy and $24 million (with an estimated federal match) to expand child‑welfare workforce capacity. The house package also included $500,000 for external technical assistance to pursue additional federal funds instead of backfilling federal revenue losses in the recurring operating budget.
CYFD Secretary Teresa Casadas told the committee the Kevin S. remedial order arrived after the executive budget was prepared. "The Kevin S remediation order was not entered until after the budget was submitted," she said, explaining the timing difference and why some remediation costs were not in the executive recommendation. She described priorities including new regional on‑call teams to avoid excessive overtime and a request to increase foster parent stipend rates.
Officials noted they requested a foster‑care rate study and said existing stipend levels are low in many instances; the agency proposed roughly $15 million (mix of general and federal funds) as an increase to foster parent payments. CYFD also faces a projected deficiency in protective services and has requested consulting help to maximize allowable federal draws before lawmakers consider recurring general fund backfill.
The committee heard that CYFD has had retention and training problems; turnover in protective services is high and new caseworkers historically left within months after first carrying caseloads. The department described mentoring and a graduated caseload model the agency is implementing and requested additional training FTEs and regional training capacity to improve retention.
No final Senate Finance vote on CYFD funding occurred in the hearing. Committee members asked staff for a consolidated “rack‑up” showing how pending bills and budget actions together would affect CYFD funding and positions during final negotiations.
