the Keeping Families Together Act

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HB 1227, known as the "Keeping Families Together Act", was originally proposed with the goals to safely reduce the number of children entering foster care as well as address racial disproportionality in removals from homes. The bill also requires judges to weigh "the risks present for a child against the harm that will be inflicted by removal". The hope was that by providing families with more services and resources, fewer children would need to be removed from their homes.

Since HB 1227 went into effect, the number of removals has decreased slightly, but the number of child fatalities and near fatalities has skyrocketed. This says nothing of all the children who are experiencing unspeakable abuse and neglect, but whose suffering does not meet the threshold of “imminent harm”. Children are being forced to remain in, or be returned to, unsafe environments. 

This law is also creating an ethical dilemma for people whose job it is to keep kids safe, who feel they cannot be part of a system that harms kids instead of protecting them. Many are resigning from their positions, and foster families are closing their licenses resulting in higher caseloads and fewer resources for children and families. 

Broaden the definition of harm to include more than just physical harm, remove the "imminent" time frame requirement and recognize illegal substance abuse as serious harm.

Substantially weigh the risk of probable harm when there is evidence of multiple, concurrent signs of abuse and/or neglect and parents are not engaged in services.

Provide resources to front-line social workers to ensure safe caseloads and so that families and children can receive the support they need.

Recognize and respect the value of attachment whether it is with a relative or non-relative caregiver to reduce disruptions and ensure relational stability.