August 18, 2016

The Honorable Richard BurrThe Honorable Thom Tillis

217 Russell Senate Office Building185 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington DC 20510Washington DC 20510

Dear Senators Burr and Tillis:

I am writing to you in regard to the proposed Family Prevention Services Act H.R. 5456, also known as the Family First Act. I am a supporter of Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH), a nonprofit child care organization that provides exemplary residential services (or congregate care) to hundreds of boys and girls every year through its 21 statewide locations.

Having seen the success stories of children in BCH’s care, Iam concernedthat the proposed Family First Act, in its current form, will greatly restrict or even eliminate BCH and other organizations providing residential care as options for children. Under this measure, IV-E funding would dictate that foster care be the overwhelming long-term solution for children. BCH has provided caring, long-term homes to many children who have come from multiple failed placements in the foster care system.Foster care is the right solution for some boys and girls, but it is not the answer for all children. Children must have every option available to them.

In addition, BCH is able to accept sibling groups while many foster homes cannot. From July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, BCH has provided residential services for 80 sibling groups! In foster care, brothers and sisters are often split among different foster families. These children are not only having to be separated from their parents or adult family members, but they are often forced to live apart from their brothers and sisters. I cannot imagine how heartbreaking this is for them.

Finally, BCH provides regular training for their staff in the CARE model (Children and Residential Experiences) – a trauma-informed, evidence-based model of care. BCH’s caring staff are equipped to help children who come from circumstances including abuse, neglect and abandonment. Every child’s situation is unique, and the specific care one child needs is different than the needs of another. It’s in the best interest of our children that all care options are available.

While I support the Family First Act’s provisions to create preventive measures helping children avoid the foster system, the cons of the proposed bill far outweigh the pros. We must not introduce legislation that prevents a child from receiving the type of care that best suits his or her needs. Please revisit this legislation and delay action until amendments can be made to ensure our children are provided a full range of services and every opportunity to achieve success.

For our children,

BCH Supporter

Baptist Children’s Homes of NC / P.O. Box 338 / Thomasville, NC 27361 / 336-474-1215 /