00:00It usually doesn't work this fast.
00:14Mr. Adams, as you know, Senator Hassen shared from your recent works to champion foster
00:23parent recruitment in Idaho, there's a significant need for qualified foster families.
00:30This is related to recruitment and retention efforts that aren't working, as well as how
00:35the states are developing their diligent recruitment plans.
00:41You referred to my bill, Recruiting Family Using Data Act would address the recruitment
00:48challenges by modifying the diligent recruitment plans to improve data collection.
00:57So the scope of the challenge that the states may face is better understood.
01:01Do you agree that better data collection will help improve recruitment efforts established
01:08by these recruitment plans?
01:10If yes, say why?
01:12Senator Grassley, thank you.
01:15Thank you for your long-time advocacy and support of foster care, including the creation
01:19of the caucus here.
01:20As I said in my opening statement, recruiting and retaining qualified foster families is
01:23absolutely critical.
01:25In Idaho, we took a data-driven approach to that, so I do think having states oriented
01:30around data is going to be critical.
01:32When I started, we had too few foster families.
01:35When you asked anyone how many, it was an unquantifiable number.
01:38We just needed more.
01:39So what we did is we set a target.
01:41We have a target, if you walk into our offices today, you'll see our goal is I want 150 foster
01:47families for every 100 kids coming into the system.
01:51I wanted families waiting on kids.
01:53I didn't want kids waiting on families.
01:56So every week I look at a breakdown of our data by region and I get a ratio of the number
02:00of foster homes relative to the number of foster kids.
02:03When I started, we had 74 foster homes for every 100 kids.
02:07Today we have 95 foster homes for every 100 kids that have come into the place.
02:13We've done that through data, targeted outreach.
02:17But in addition to recruitment, retention is one of the most important things states need
02:22to focus on.
02:23Retaining your existing crop of foster families through providing top-notch services.
02:29I think them as part of case management and case planning is something that's really important.
02:33Yeah.
02:34Also, do you, on May the 5th this year, I wrote to Secretary Kennedy about the National Human
02:43Trafficking Hotline and the contractor operating it, Polaris.
02:48I noted that a whistleblower disclosed that Polaris isn't reporting tips of human trafficking
02:56to law enforcement.
02:58This includes reports about minors.
03:00I also highlighted that Cathar Schoen, the co-founder of Polaris, is in charge of the Office
03:06of Trafficking in Persons.
03:10That office oversees and awards the grants to run the hotlines.
03:15It's my understanding that the OTPI, OTIP and HHS are set to award the grants soon.
03:24Given that you'll oversee OTIP, will you ensure all conflicts of interest are removed from
03:33the grant process?
03:35And if so, how do you do that?
03:37Senator, well, first, I've read a little bit about this issue through published reports,
03:43but as the nominee, I don't have any internal information.
03:47First I would say, with the human trafficking hotline, any relevant tip should be and shall
03:54be transferred to law enforcement, period.
03:57I understand the Trump administration has made positive steps towards that, and to the
04:02extent that that issue is not fully resolved when I start, I will commit to working with
04:06all relevant parties to solve that.
04:08All tips should go to law enforcement if they are relevant tips.
04:12In terms of procurement integrity, it's absolutely paramount that people have trust in how our
04:18government operates.
04:20To the extent there are any conflicts of interest, I would work with our Office of General Counsel
04:24and the other relevant parties to issue a procurement to ensure that it is done within the confines
04:30of law.
04:31To emphasize then, can I get your commitment to ensuring that all tips are required to be
04:37reported, law enforcement will actually be reported?
04:40Senator, yes, all relevant tips will be reported.
04:46Thank you, I yield.
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