MO Senator Blunt Introduces Legislation Supporting Adoptive Families

Missouri US Senator Roy Blunt is working to support adoptive families. Read the full press release below:

During National Adoption Month, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA), introduced legislation to support adoptive families. The senators reintroduced their bipartisan bill, the Supporting Adoptive Families Act, which would provide pre- and post-adoption support services, including mental health treatment, to help adoptive families stay strong.

“Every child deserves a loving family and the stability of a permanent home,” Blunt said. “This bill will provide families additional tools and support services to help them achieve a successful adoption. I’ll continue advocating for policies that will help ensure adoption remains a viable option for families who are able to give children a safe, caring home.”

“Minnesotans have a long and proud tradition of adoption, providing loving homes to children from all around the globe,” Klobuchar said. “Our bipartisan Supporting Adoptive Families Act will help provide families with counseling and support throughout the adoption process to ensure a smooth and successful transition for children and their parents.”

The Supporting Adoptive Families Act would help prevent children from entering the foster care system through the provision of pre- and post-adoptive support services. Specifically, the bill promotes:

• Training and counseling on behavioral issues, including issues relating to emotional, behavioral, or developmental health needs;
• Peer-to-peer mentoring and support groups that permit a newly adoptive parent to communicate and learn from more experienced adoptive parents, including programs that enhance communication between adoptive parents with children of similar geographic, ethnic, or cultural backgrounds;
• Treatment services specialized for adopted children, including psychiatric residential services, outpatient mental health services, social skills training, intensive in-home supervision services, recreational therapy, suicide prevention, and substance abuse treatment; and
• Crisis and family preservation services, including crisis counseling and a 24-hour emergency hotline for adoptive parents.
• The bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities to develop and implement state-sponsored post-adoption mental health service programs for all adopted children.