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Department defends kinship navigation, says $1M rescission was taken to meet budget cuts
Summary
Analyst and Director Juliette Sharon described a requested $180,000 ongoing federal kinship navigation grant and said $1M previously appropriated for home visiting was included in proposed rescissions to meet a required 3% general‑fund reduction; the department pointed to Medicaid and other federal streams as alternate supports.
The committee heard the Department of Health and Welfare’s presentation on Family and Community Partnerships, including a request for $180,000 ongoing in federal funds to support the kinship navigation grant that helps relatives and close family friends who step into caregiving roles.
Analyst Morgan Paloney told the committee the request is intended to support kinship families and prevent entries into foster care. Director Juliette Sharon said no core trainings were removed and that the department encourages and supports kinship families with optional trainings and staff assistance.
Senator Wintrow and others asked about a $1,000,000 general‑fund appropriation made in 2020 (Senate Bill 1415) that the districts had expected to receive. Sharon said that $1,000,000 is included in the department’s proposed rescissions to meet a 3% general‑fund reduction going into FY2026 and ongoing, and that other federal streams—including newly available Medicaid reimbursement for home‑visiting services—are supporting those programs.
Sharon acknowledged concerns about sustainability and the tension between reducing bureaucracy and ensuring kinship and foster families receive needed training. She said the department is pursuing additional federal prevention grants (Families First) and is confident some functions can be sustained through Medicaid and other federal funding.
Committee members asked for follow‑up on where the rescinded funds are recorded and whether training and outcomes are being tracked; the department committed to follow‑up reporting.
