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Child-welfare groups urge funding for behavioral health intervention teams to reduce foster-care moves
Summary
Children's Alliance of Kansas and Foster Adopt Connect told the Committee on Social Services Budget that initial state funding for behavioral health intervention teams would stabilize placements, support foster families and help retain the child-welfare workforce; advocates said Medicaid could sustain the teams after start-up funding.
Crystal Hedrick, chief executive officer of the Children's Alliance of Kansas, told the House Committee on Social Services Budget that the alliance supports the Department for Children and Families' budget and specifically urged funding for social safety net programs and statewide behavioral health intervention teams.
"The opportunity for the behavioral health intervention teams across the state is really an effective strategy for us to improve a lot of circumstances within the foster care system," Hedrick said, arguing teams would reduce placement moves that occur because of behavioral-health needs and would support foster and kinship families as well as the child-welfare workforce.
Lori Ross, founder and CEO of Foster Adopt Connect, also testified in favor of behavioral intervention services, calling them "desperately needed" for children with high-acuity emotional and behavioral needs who are at risk of repeated moves and worsening outcomes. Ross said her organization is prepared to work with foster-care case management contractors to deliver or support those services.
Both witnesses described the teams as a strategy that would produce placement stability, reduce trauma from family separation, and support foster-care recruitment and retention. Hedrick added that an initial state investment would support implementation and that Medicaid could primarily sustain the teams after start-up.
Testimony emphasized that the behavioral-intervention approach complements existing child-placement services and that implementation details — including which contractors would deliver services and how billing under Medicaid would be phased in — remain to be worked out with DCF and provider partners.
No formal budget vote occurred in the hearing. Advocates asked the committee to consider the interventions as part of DCF's enhancement requests and to include start-up funding so teams could be established statewide.
Background: Hedrick referenced the McIntyre lawsuit and settlement in her remarks as a contextual factor tied to placement stability concerns; she indicated workforce and placement stability troubles are driving interest in behavioral intervention teams.
Ending: Committee members did not take action at the hearing; witnesses said they were available to answer follow-up questions and to help refine implementation and Medicaid billing plans.
