Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Welfare Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JFAC approves $14.1M supplemental for foster care costs and a FY2026 child‑welfare expansion tied to performance goals
Summary
The committee approved a $14.1 million supplemental for foster‑care trustee and benefit payments for FY2025 and approved a FY2026 package adding 63 FTEs and funding to expand prevention, foster‑care clinical staff and licensing, with language tying part of the funding to a foster‑family ratio goal.
On March 14 the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee approved a $14,126,900 supplemental for the Division of Youth Safety and Permanency (child welfare) to cover anticipated trustee and benefit payment shortfalls in FY2025 and later approved a FY2026 package that adds personnel and operating dollars aimed at prevention and reducing reliance on high‑cost congregate care.
The FY2025 supplemental totals $14,126,900 (moved by Senator Wintrow; seconded by Representative Furness) and is funded with $8,868,200 from the General Fund and $5,258,700 from federal funds. Analyst Alex Williamson told the committee the supplemental covers a forecast shortfall driven by congregate‑care placements and noted the department is working to move youth into less costly, in‑state placements; she also said that prior work had reduced an initial request from $24 million to the approved $14.1 million. The motion passed on a combined 18‑1 vote.
For FY2026, the committee approved a package adding 63 full‑time equivalent positions and $21,245,700 total funds (approximately $13,774,600 general fund and $7,471,100 federal funds). The package includes a 36‑position prevention specialist team, foster‑care clinical staff, licensing staff, temporary staffing and operating costs for the Payette Assessment and Care Center (PAC), and a population forecast adjustment. Representative Tanner moved the motion; Senator Cook seconded. Committee members discussed the budget as an investment in prevention: committee leaders and members repeatedly contrasted the per‑day costs of in‑home prevention (about $1.80), foster care ($16 per day) and congregate care (about $380 per day) to frame the long‑term savings rationale.
The committee adopted language that exempts the child‑welfare division from certain Department of Health and Welfare transfer limitations for FY2025 and FY2026 (referencing “section 60 seven‑thirty five‑eleven” as cited in the hearing). In addition, the committee tied eight of the new foster‑program licensing staff positions to a performance target: achieving a one‑to‑one ratio of foster families to foster children by Jan. 1, 2026, with preliminary reporting requirements (a status update by Sept. 15) specified in the motion packet. Committee members said they will monitor implementation closely and expected follow‑up reports.
Both the supplemental and the FY2026 package were sent to the floor with due‑pass recommendations.
