Foster Care Independence Act
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Foster Care Independence Act (H.R. 3443) was passed by the United States Congress in November 1999[1] and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on December 17, 1999.[2]
The Act supports provision of health insurance to former foster children, up to the age of 21, by way of states using Medicaid funds.[1] It permits such youths to have assets up to $10,000 with compromising their assistance.[1] It expands funds for these 18-to-21-year-olds to benefit from Independent living programs from $70 million to $140 million,[3][1] and broadens what these monies can be applied to.[1]
First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton was instrumental in passage of the bill, first holding on youth conference on the issues involved and then lobbying Congress in support of legislation.[3] It followed in the wake of her support for the earlier Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, which made it easier to adopt foster children;[4] now the Foster Care Independence Act was intended to ease the transition into adulthood of foster children who did not get adopted.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e The Foster Care Independence Act. American Psychological Association (December 1999). Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
- ^ "President Clinton Signs H.R. 3443, The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999", Social Security Administration, 1999-12-17. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
- ^ a b Somini Sengupta. "Campaigns Soft-Pedal On Children and the Poor", The New York Times, 2000-10-29. Retrieved on 2008-03-15.
- ^ a b First Lady Biography: Hillary Clinton. National First Ladies' Library. Retrieved on 2006-08-22.
