Q&A
Communication with foster care agencies during federal funding uncertainty
0:33:03
ยท
108 sec
Council Member Stevens asks about ACS's communication with foster care agencies and service providers during the period of federal funding uncertainty. Commissioner Dannhauser explains the current communication strategies.
- Regular communication with the Council on Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) to share information and updates
- Development of guidance to ensure providers are clear on continuing support for LGBTQ+ individuals, including gender-affirming care
- Collaboration with Legal Aid to refine language in communications
- Emphasis on communicating ACS's commitment to supporting young people, particularly those who are black, brown, or LGBTQ+
Althea Stevens
0:33:03
Yeah.
0:33:04
I think it's important that we continue to fight for that and highlight that.
0:33:07
How does ACS communicate with foster care agencies and service providers during this moment of federal uncertainty?
0:33:13
Like, what's the messaging, and and how have you been working with them?
0:33:15
Because I can see this.
0:33:18
Obviously, we all are feeling anxiety in this moment.
0:33:21
But even with the uncertainty where there was a freeze and all these things going on, how do we what is the messaging to our providers?
Jess Dannhauser
0:33:28
So as you know, the providers are the foster care providers and almost all the prevention providers are part of Kafka, the Council on Family and Child Caring Agencies.
0:33:37
I think I see Doctor.
0:33:38
Charles.
0:33:39
Yeah.
Althea Stevens
0:33:39
Of course.
0:33:39
We
Jess Dannhauser
0:33:40
are in regular communication at at my level with with Kathleen Brady Stepien and with doctor Charles to make sure everything we are learning, everything they are learning, we're in communication around.
0:33:52
We are in addition to the funding issues, we are working on guidance to make sure that the providers are clear that we are staying the course to support our LGBTQ plus people, including gender affirming care.
0:34:08
We met with Legal Aid this morning.
0:34:10
They're helping us with some feedback on that language, but we're gonna be getting that out early next week.
0:34:16
We're trying to make sure that we are communicating what we believe in for our young people, for our families, that we are moving forward to take care of young people who are mostly black and brown, who are, need to know that they're supported.
0:34:33
We know that there's an over representation of LGBTQ kids in foster care, and so those things are central to us to speak to, and we're getting that message out through Kafka and to the providers, regularly and often, in addition to, the guidance that's been put out around immigration.