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Are Subsidized Guardianships Making a Positive Difference for Kids? Early Evidence from the Field

  

Author:
Frances Deviney /(512) 320-0222 x 106

August 30, 2012

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Under a federal law known as the Fostering Connections Act, Texas recently began providing financial assistance to relatives when they became legal guardians of children who have been abused or neglected, cannot return home, or be adopted. This paper will explore whether these payments have increased overall permanent placements with relatives or have only led relatives to shift from adoption to legal guardianship, thereby increasing permanency through legal guardianships, but potentially decreasing adoptions. Early evidence suggests that while there have been increases in both overall permanency and relative guardianship, the proportion of children being adopted by a relative has declined.