H.657 Passes in The House!
H.657 is a broad bill affecting services and programs within the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Children, youth, and families who intersect with DCF are often struggling with poverty, violence, and systemic oppression. This bill makes important corrections to DCF practices that will improve the wellbeing of Vermonters.
Read more about how these corrections may affect you and your family.
Eliminating the Reach Up Asset Limit
Asset limits penalize saving, forcing families to spend down modest assets in order to qualify for essential benefits during periods of income instability. 70% of Vermont’s Reach Up beneficiaries are children. By discouraging savings, asset limits ensure that families remain one emergency away from deepening poverty. This bill eliminates the asset limit, making it easier for families to save and reducing the eligibility burden for Reach Up case managers at DCF.In the Senate, we’ll advocate to amplify the impact of this policy change by allowing non-recurring lump sum payments (like court settlements, proceeds from the sale of an asset, etc.) to be excluded when determining eligibility.
Social Security Benefits for Youth in Foster Care
An estimated 10% of children and youth in foster care are eligible for benefits based on disability status or the death of a parent. These benefits are essential financial resources for young people who often face barriers to financial security, safety, and overall wellbeing. This bill ends DCF’s practice of using children’s social security benefits to offset the agency’s budget.The bill requires accounting, shared decision making, and saving the benefits for the child’s future use.
Expanding Independent Youth Access to Services
The bill grants a process for unaccompanied and independent youth to access services without parental consent such as medical appointments, school field trips, and housing. The bill also waives fees for vital documentation and ID such as birth certificates and driver’s licenses.
Greater Protections and Transparency for Children in DCF Custody
This bill defines and restricts the use of restraint and seclusion for children and youth in DCF custody. It also requires consistent reporting and accountability to the Office of Child, Youth, and Family Advocate and the child’s respective legal representatives. This significantly limits the traumatizing use of practices such as strip searches, waist shackles, and transport restraints.
Establishing A Working Group In Response to DCF Pregnancy Surveillance
This group will examine and offer supportive, family-centered alternatives to DCF’s practice of using a calendar to track an individual's pregnancy. DCF recommended Voices to be a member of the working group along with state and community partners. The goal of this group is to provide recommendations for supporting pregnant people who use substances or have mental illness so they are prepared to parent their children and cope during the postpartum period.
