Advocacy
As the national voice for residential education, CORE responds to the challenges its members face in trying to serve children, garnering support in a bipartisan manner. With member involvement, we proactively educate policymakers on the residential education field and assertively respond to changes and opportunities in federal and state regulations that impact residential education programs.
- “Branding” (pdf) – defining and distinguishing residential education, and how it differs from other residential programs (also see Public Awareness).
- Affecting changes and clarifications in public policy at the federal level, and assisting members at the state level:
- Sends briefs on legislation to CORE members, who are asked for their input before responses are made; CORE staff and members testify when the opportunity arises;
- Works with the Administration and its agencies to clarify and improve regulations and outcomes pertaining to at-risk youth, including but not limited to youth in foster care, and those that impact residential education programs;
- Identifies and reaches out to national friends and foes in Congress, the Administration, and other national organizations;
- Shares relevant state-level trends, legislation, and regulations through Advocacy Committee conference calls open to all CORE members and other means.
- Accomplishments include:
- Inserted language in federal foster care legislation stating residential education as a valid option for children in the system – Public Law 109-288, the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 (valid for five years).
- Secured written clarification from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stating children can be placed immediately in a residential school or children’s home upon removal from their family home, and federal foster care funds (Title IV-E) can follow children to their residential education program.
- Secured clarification and favorable interpretations of exemptions from U.S. Department of Labor regarding overtime wage regulations for residential staff. CORE continues to pursue modifications in this arena.
- Research – evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this option for children and youth is essential for creating public policy more supportive of residential education.
- CORE completed and published the findings of the first survey of existing residential education programs, “Overview of Residential Education in the U.S.,” which provides an essential base for further research;
- Based on the above survey, Residential Education: An Emerging Resource for Improving Educational Outcomes for Youth in Foster Care? was published by child welfare researchers Drs. Bethany Lee and Richard Barth (University of Maryland School of Social Work);
- A qualitative study of residential education for youth in foster care is under way;
- CORE is researching costs of residential education, and comparing these costs to other residential programs;
- CORE is collecting and sharing research findings on individual member programs, including educational outcomes achieved.
- Monitoring and disseminating information:
- Advocacy briefs and e-bulletins are sent to CORE members as legislation, regulations, challenges, and opportunities arise.
- CORE monitors the activities of critics of residential education who don’t yet understand or fully value residential education, disseminating information to members and sharing information among members in different states to bolster their success; meets with critics, when possible and likely helpful, to share views and information.
- CORE works on other legislation relevant to the success of residential education programs, and the youth, families, and communities served.