WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Deb Fischer and Representative Don Bacon reintroduced the bipartisan Foster Care Stabilization Act, which would provide children in pre-placement foster care with better access to essential supplies like clothing, food, and other necessities.
Specifically, the bill would authorize grants to foster care stabilization agencies to provide emergency relief and improve pre-placement services.
“Children entering foster care are already carrying too heavy a burden,” said Hickenlooper. “We should do everything we can to ease that transition.”
“No child entering foster care should have to worry about basic necessities. I’m proud to partner with Senator Hickenlooper and Rep. Bacon to reintroduce this bill so children transitioning into foster care receive the support and resources they deserve immediately,” said Fischer.
“Children who enter the foster care system do not get to make their own choice and it’s unfortunate there are so many children who have gone to unstable homes,” said Bacon. “As a foster to adopt parent, I know the Foster Care Stabilization Act will help to reduce trauma that children experience in the foster care system because it would help them receive daily needs such as clothing, food, and safety, things many of us take for granted but mean so much to a child. I thank Senators Fischer and Hickenlooper for their partnership and leadership in reintroducing this important legislation to support children entering foster care.”
The transition into foster care can be a difficult experience for children, who often lack basic supplies such as clothes or other personal necessities.
Foster care stabilization agencies address these challenges by providing children with the emergency supplies and assistance they need – restoring dignity to kids entering the foster care system and setting them up for success with their future foster care family.
The Foster Care Stabilization Act would authorize $3 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demonstration grants that could be used to:
- Hire personnel
- Secure clothing or personal necessities for foster youth
- Purchase food and food preparation equipment for foster youth
- Offer services to prevent and respond to child abuse
- Address any other emergency assistance needed to promote the safety and self-sufficiency of foster youth.
Full text of the legislation is available HERE.
###