Dublin, U.S.A. — Tis the season for cherishing special moments with family. But what about those who don’t have one?  To honor children in foster care, Wendy’s is asking American families to tune into CBS Television Network’s 14th Annual “A Home for the Holidays,” a program honoring the joys of adoption told through inspirational stories from families involved in this rewarding process and performances by Rachel Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Rascal Flatts and other entertainers. The special, sponsored by Wendy’s, airs Wednesday, December 19, at 8:00 p.m. EST on CBS.

With more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States, and over 100,000 of them available for adoption, Wendy’s is also encouraging consumers to “tweet it” to “treat it” back to this important cause. For every tweet using #TreatItFwd until December 21, Wendy’s will donate 50¢ to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA), the non-profit organization established in 1992 by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas, who was adopted. Wendy’s will donate up to $25,000 to the Foundation in support of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, the signature program of DTFA that focuses on moving America’s longest-waiting children in foster care into adoptive families.

“Our involvement in ‘A Home for the Holidays’ and our social media fundraising are just a few ways we give back to the communities and families we serve every year,” said Emil Brolick, President and CEO of Wendy’s International. “We are grateful for the support of our customers who have helped us raise more than $10 million this year to find permanent loving homes for children in foster care.”

Wendy’s provides a range of ways for its customers to get involved throughout the year, such as:

• Offering donation canisters at its restaurants’ front counters
• Donating 50¢ to DTFA for each Frosty purchased over Father’s Day Weekend
• Selling $1 Halloween Frosty coupon books for free Jr. Frosty desserts

To date, Wendy’s has helped more than 3,000 children in foster care find forever families, and several thousand more have been matched with families and are awaiting adoption. Data from a five-year study of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids shows that children referred to the program are up to three times more likely to get adopted.

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The Mentor Network, a national network of local human services providers, has launched a new website – www.makeadifferenceathome.com – and an online advertising campaign designed to increase awareness about the need for more Host Home providers.

Host Homes consist of individuals and families who provide caring homes in the community for children in need and adults with developmental disabilities.  In partnership with The Mentor Network, Host Home providers open their hearts and their homes and have the opportunity to earn extra money to help make ends meet.

“The Mentor Network is called a ‘network’ for a reason — it’s not just one person or group.  It’s a national network of people, in communities across the country, who are joined by the common belief that positive, nurturing relationships are the basis for growth and change and that these relationships are best fostered through active participation in the daily rhythms of neighborhood and family life,” said Dwight Robson, Chief Public Strategy & Marketing Officer at The Mentor Network.

Across the nation, there are more than 100,000 individuals with developmental disabilities who are waiting for access to community-based services.  In addition, there are more than 400,000 children in the foster care system.

“There are already thousands of individuals who have decided to make a difference at home, but the need for community-based care continues to grow,” Robson said.  “Through this campaign we hope to show people how rewarding this work can be and encourage them to consider how much of a difference they could make in the life of an adult or child in need.”

The new website is designed to help interested individuals learn more about being a foster parent or host home provider and includes videos, case studies and other interactive features.

“We refer to our host home providers and foster parents as ‘Mentors’ because they do so much more than just provide a home to an individual in need — they help them grow and learn, forever changing their lives,” Robson continued.  “Mentors make a huge difference to the life of an individual and they also earn extra money at home that can help make ends meet.”

Mentors are caring individuals from all walks of life who provide support for children with emotional, medical and behavioral challenges and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Mentors help children and adults thrive as part of the community and positively impact their home life.

“When you take in and care for a foster child or an adult with developmental disabilities, you’re giving them something money can’t buy — a helping hand, a home, a family, and someone who wants to share a life with them.  As a Mentor, you show them through your actions that we all matter and we all deserve to live life to the fullest,” said Robson.

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Governor Tom Corbett’s proposed 2012-13 budget transforms the public welfare system by providing incentives to those who are able to transition from the welfare line to the workforce, providing real relief to our poor and safeguarding taxpayer dollars through the elimination of waste, fraud and abuse.

“We are focused on maintaining the safety net for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable and most in need. However, Pennsylvania taxpayers, who already pay 40 cents on each of their tax dollars for welfare programs, cannot sustain the continued growth of public assistance,” said Public Welfare Secretary Gary D. Alexander. “Public welfare was created to provide temporary assistance for most recipients and to be a last resort, not a way of life.”

In the proposed budget, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) focuses on providing the most essential services to recipients by maximizing every taxpayer dollar.

The department currently provides services to more than 2.2 million Pennsylvanians. Currently, for every 2.1 individuals working, one individual is on welfare. Ten years ago, that ratio was 3.3 employed individuals to one individual on welfare.

“In the past ten years, welfare budget growth has outpaced general fund growth, poverty growth and state personal income growth primarily due to increases in the Medical Assistance program,” said Alexander. “Pennsylvania spends more on its Medicaid budget than 48 other states, including New York and California.”

Current projections show a significant rise in costs at the department for the 2012-2013 year. However, through responsible reform, aggressive cost-containment efforts and continued measures to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse, the governor is able to propose a budget for the department that closes that gap without increasing taxes.

The proposed budget takes steps to protect our most vulnerable populations through a number of program enhancements.

The plan proposes reforming foster care support through the Fostering Connections program by increasing the supported age of foster children from 18 to 21. The additional years of support gives these children a better chance for success in their lives.

The proposal provides funding to implement an adult protective services system for physically and cognitively impaired individuals ages 18-59. Currently, the commonwealth provides a similar system for children and older Pennsylvanians and this budget ensures these services extend to the adult age range.

“This budget focuses on spending every dollar smarter,” said Alexander. “Whether that is through a focus on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse or simply taking a fresh look at the way we do business, we will maximize taxpayer investment and preserve essential programs for their intended purpose.”

Under the proposed budget, attendance and work hour requirements will be tightened to ensure the Child Care Works supplement is being used by parents who need services due to work commitments, and for children who are attending on a regular basis.

The department will take advantage of current technology to institute a new audit system which will be implemented to review more Medicaid claims prior to payment as opposed to post payment in order to reduce fraud and abuse.

The department will also undertake intensive review and management of the highest-cost cases on the Medical Assistance program to ensure their health issues are being properly managed, and prevention and wellness strategies are being employed and followed.  The top 3,500 consumers of Medical Assistance care cost approximately $400 million to serve. Strategies such as the medical home and integrated care models must be examined as ways to supply better quality care to these high care-use individuals.

“This budget transforms how we provide financial assistance to our counties by proposing a block grant that encompasses a number of state-funded and county administered programs,” said Alexander.

This approach gives counties the flexibility to move funding where it is needed most in their communities, reinforcing our shared belief that these services are best administered at the local level. The block grant includes:

• Mental Health Services
• Intellectual Disabilities
• County Child Welfare Special Grants
• Behavioral Health Services
• Homeless Assistance Programs
• Human Services Development Fund
• Act 152 Drug and Alcohol Program

Modifications are also proposed to Pennsylvania’s General Assistance program, which provides assistance to those who do not qualify for federal programs.  Pennsylvania is among a small group of states that continue to offer solely state- funded services of this kind.

The budget proposes eliminating cash assistance and tightening definitions and work requirements for Medical Assistance programs. These measures make it possible for the commonwealth to preserve availability of these programs for those in need in the face of limited resources.

The proposed budget also includes the following reforms:

• Expanding the Health Choices managed care plan for those on Medical Assistance to all 67 counties.
• Increasing the monthly premium rate paid by Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities, and tightening up loose provisions that allows recipients to avoid paying premiums.
• Altering on-site hospital enrollment in Medical Assistance to ensure taxpayers no longer pay monthly premiums on enrollees that use the system one time.
• Instituting a reduction in provider payments for hospitals and nursing facilities.

These reforms take a hard look at ending waste, fraud and abuse to ensure the funding available is truly used for our most needy Pennsylvanians. While providing assistance to residents when they hit hard times, the department is also dedicated to helping everyone find a path to independent living.

The department will focus on job placement and accountability in the employment and training programs that specialize in helping welfare recipients find work. Performance-based outcomes are used for providers to encourage positive outcomes for recipients enrolled in the program.

Due to current maintenance-of-effort requirements in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the department has lost the ability to make needed reforms in approximately two-thirds of its budget. Therefore, only completely state-funded programs and provider rates were left to focus cost containment measures.

Jennifer Stone / Shutterstock.com

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Casey Family Programs, a national operating foundation committed to improving the lives of children and families in communities across America, has named Linda James of Rochester, N.Y., among the winners of the annual Casey Excellence for Children Awards.

The foundation gives the awards to recognize outstanding individuals who have demonstrated distinguished work, exceptional leadership and relentless dedication in improving the child welfare system.

Ms. James received the award in the category for kinship caregivers. The award recognizes a licensed or non-licensed caregiver who provides care for a relative’s child, and has advocated for other kinship caregivers and the relative children in their care. Linda James has raised two grandchildren, and since 1997 has facilitated an educational support group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.

In collaboration with the University of Rochester, Ms. James helped develop and facilitate the trainings of more than 20 grandparents as home visitors and mentors for supporting other kinship care providers. She also provides one-on-one assistance and advocacy to help grandparents navigate through guardianship application paperwork.

Ms. James has participated for many years in the New York State Kincare Coalition and she chaired the Kinship Care Alliance in the Rochester area. She serves on many organizations, including the National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights, the New York State Children and Family Trust Fund, the Relatives Resource Committee for Monroe County Family Court, and the Advocacy Center in Rochester. The governor appointed Ms. James in 2007 to serve on the New York State Family Caregiver Council.

“Linda James carries the banner for countless others across the nation who are doing extraordinary work on behalf of those involved in the foster care system,” said Shelia Evans-Tranumn, chair of the Board of Trustees of Casey Family Programs. “She shares our goal to have every child grow up in a healthy, safe and permanent family, and within a supportive community.”

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