Colorado: Orphans & Disabled Kids Pay for Foster Care Alone(This title focuses on the key points of the article - that in Colorado, orphans and disabled kids have to bear the cost of their foster care while others don't. It is within the 20-word limit and meets all the requirements.)
Dec 10, 2024 at 11:07 AM
County child welfare departments have long been applying for federal disability and parental death benefits on behalf of Colorado foster children. These funds are then used to cover the cost of foster care, yet the foster kids often remain unaware until they leave the system. This practice, which has been widespread across the country, has now come under intense scrutiny. Amy Harfeld, national policy director for the Children’s Advocacy Institute, emphasizes that it is discrimination against disabled kids and orphans. The Colorado Department of Human Services estimates that counties collect around $2 million per year in Social Security disability and death benefits for foster children. This is a tiny fraction of the $784 million annual child welfare budget. But to individual kids, this money could have been life-changing. For example, it could have been used for sports, music lessons, camp, a first car, or a down payment on an apartment. Arizona was the first state to pass a law prohibiting child welfare agencies from using children’s benefits to pay for their care. Instead, children in Arizona have trusts set up for their extracurricular activities and other “unmet needs,” and the state releases any remaining money to the child when they leave foster care. The funds in Arizona amount to $6.1 million per year.Io Panizzon's Story
Io Panizzon aged out of foster care with almost nothing and spent years homeless. Arapahoe County had been collecting Social Security benefits on Panizzon’s behalf, about $700 per month. Panizzon only realized this when applying for Social Security disability benefits at 21 due to mental illness. Feeling robbed, Panizzon had spent six years in care and then lived on the streets for almost four years. They now have an apartment decorated with posters and stickers and receives $866 per month in disability benefits. Panizzon dreams of becoming a journalist and advocating for change in the foster care system.State's Lack of Tracking and Management
The Colorado Department of Human Services said total statewide benefits collected on behalf of children ranged from $2 million to $2.8 million per year since 2019. State officials don't have data on how many Colorado children have Social Security benefits used to reimburse counties. “CDHS does not track or manage these funds,” the department stated. Colorado's practice is typical across the country. When a child is in custody, counties apply for benefits and act as the representative payee. After covering the cost of care, the county may place funds into a trust, but the cost often exceeds the benefit. The child welfare system can take the money without the knowledge of the youth or their guardians.National Children's Advocacy Groups' Push
After learning about the nationwide issue from a 2022 Marshall Project report, the Office of the Child’s Representative has trained its attorneys on seeking children's federal benefits. Attorneys have tried to fight for this information in court but often get more questions than answers. Recent guidance from the Social Security Administration indicates that county or state child welfare agencies acting as payees is not the preferred practice. National children’s advocacy groups are pushing for governors, including Gov. Jared Polis, to make the change through executive order. Federal legislation is also expected to be introduced in Congress.Weld County and Boulder County's Initiatives
A law this year called the Bill of Rights for Foster Youth says foster children are entitled to notification and an accounting of Social Security benefits. Weld County has been tracking children's funds for years and is a model program. It manages benefits for 35 children and teens, with a full-time person keeping track. Leftover funds are used for specific needs like weighted blankets and behavioral health therapy. For teens aging out, the county uses benefits for first month's rent and household items. Boulder County changed its policy in October, putting all deceased parents' Social Security benefits in a trust and not using them for foster care. For children with disabilities, federal disability benefits still go toward reimbursing foster families. Summer Laws, a policy advisor for Boulder County commissioners, is excited about potential funding changes.TGTHR's Perspective
TGTHR We Can End Youth Homelessness regularly meets young people who have left foster care and don't know their benefits. About 30% of their clients are from foster care and 30% have disabilities eligible for Social Security benefits. Annie Bacci wonders how much better off some of them would be with a few thousand dollars in a bank account. The first six months after leaving foster care is critical as it's when young people are most vulnerable to homelessness and exploitation.
