Dear [salutation],
As a former foster parent and a co-lead of the Foster Youth Caucus, I care deeply about our nation’s foster youth and their families. One of my goals in Congress is to reform and transform foster care. According to the Administration for Children & Families, an estimated 407,000 children were in foster care in 2020. Many of these children will go through the system without the support needed to better their future.
Improving the placement process when a child is removed from their home is a great first step in reforming foster care. My bill, H.R. 8635, the “Foster Care Stabilization Act of 2022,” would establish grant programs that provide emergency relief to foster youth and improve pre-placement services offered by foster care stabilization agencies. Through this act, foster care agencies will be able to hire personnel necessary to provide emergency relief to foster youth and assist in purchasing food and equipment needed to prepare food, provide service, and prevent and respond to occurrences of child abuse and neglect.
The pandemic increased the number of homeless and runaway youths, who have become more susceptible to trafficking. Promoting the safety and self-sufficiency of foster youth is another goal of mine, which is why I joined Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY-3) to introduce H.R. 8948, the “Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022.” This legislation provides community-based services for runaway or homeless youth who need temporary shelter, counseling, or aftercare services such as suicide prevention, training for staff about trauma-informed care, services for youth who suffer from family separation, and living grants to support long term residential services for older homeless youth. It also develops programs through the national communications system to connect runaway and homeless youth with their families and service providers.
I also introduced H.R. 3083, the “Foster Youth Mentoring Act” alongside Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA-37) to improve youth’s outcomes and future, by providing mentors the best training possible to have a strong understanding of child development, family dynamics, the child welfare system, education, and other relevant considerations. Through this legislation, mentoring programs will connect foster care youth with vital relationships and counseling services needed to navigate life and transition into adulthood.
Keeping siblings together in the foster care system is another priority of mine. It significantly increases their chance of having positive life outcomes. While current federal law requires states to make a “reasonable effort” to place siblings together in the foster care system, the majority of siblings in the foster system are separated. Some reports identify as many as 75% of foster children are placed apart from one or more of their siblings. This is a serious problem that is preventable. That is why my Foster Youth Caucus colleagues and I introduced H.R. 4378, the “Protecting Sibling Relationships in Foster Care Act.”
Some other bills I have cosponsored that help reform and improve the foster care system include:
H.R. 8335, the “Equality for Families with Disabilities Act” which protects individuals with disabilities who are parents, legal guardians, relatives, caregivers, foster or adoptive parents, or individuals seeking to become foster or adoptive parents from discrimination in the child welfare system.
H.R. 7932, the “Foster Youth and Driving Act” which creates grants to help foster youth obtain the practice and insurance needed to get their licenses. A driver’s license is an important form of identification, without which these youth would have difficulty traveling, securing an apartment, or become employed.
I will continue to advocate for foster youth and those aging out of the system and work with my House colleagues from both sides of the aisle to improve current conditions through legislation. Through these policies, children in foster care may have more opportunities to develop and become successful adults.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to me here. You can also call our office at (402) 938-0300.
Sincerely,
Don Bacon
