Category: Foster Care

Financial security of foster youth

An Associated Press article from August 16 discusses Rep. James Langevin’s work on legislation that would help protect youth in foster care from identity theft and credit fraud by requiring states to run credit checks on foster children and assist those who become victims of identity theft as well as prohibiting states from putting Social Security numbers in foster care records as a means of child identification.

The article first discusses how foster youth in care and aging out of care are already financially disadvantaged compared to their non-foster youth peers.  Complicating this reality for foster youth is the fact that, unknown to them, many are victims of identity theft or other financial crimes.  One study from California estimates that up to 50 percent of the children in the state’s system have been victims of identity theft.  Of great concern to many child welfare experts is how unknown and widespread this problem is across the country.

The financial security of current and former foster youth is a growing issue of concern among those in the field.  Earlier this year, the Children’s Advocacy Institute and First Star hosted a Congressional briefing to mark the release of the report, The Fleecing of Foster Children: How We Confiscate Their Assets and Undermine Their Financial Security.  The report addresses various aspects of youth’s financial well-being in care, including topics such as protection from social security fraud and promoting Individual Development Accounts.

One of CCAI’s 2010 Foster Youth Interns, Jeremy Long, was featured in a news clip about Colorado state legislation also targeted toward protecting foster youth from identity theft.  Shortly after seeing this story, one child welfare practitioner from Florida contacted CCAI and commented, “Families that adopt our foster children and foster children themselves encounter a serious problem.  More times than not parents whose parental rights have been terminated continue to use their child’s social security number to commit fraud such as for welfare funds, food stamps or income tax deductions.

In New Report, Foster Youth Tell Congress, “Don’t Write Us Off”

In New Report, Foster Youth Tell Congress, “Don’t Write Us Off”

Better Policies, Not More Funding, Will Help Most Vulnerable

Psychotropic Drugs, Education and Immigration Top Areas for Reform

 Washington, DC – August 2, 2011 – Today a group of former foster youth interning on Capitol Hill released a comprehensive report on the system in which they were raised. The Future of Foster Care: A Revolution for Change details the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Foster Youth Internship (FYI) recommendations on improving hot-button issues ranging from immigration, education, mentoring, psychotropic drugs, child abuse, and government accountability. All of the topics reported are those that the youth felt motivated by personal experience to present. The report serves as a blueprint for Members of Congress interested in advancing foster care reform.  The 2011 FYI Report is the fourth in a series from which several previous recommendations are in the process of becoming law.

“The 2011 FYI briefing and report should teach us two simple, but profound lessons,” said Kathleen Strottman, Executive Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), “that we are too often failing to provide youth in foster care with the everyday things that ANY child needs to thrive, and more importantly, the children who do receive these supports, have the potential to be our future leaders.”

The report’s authors delivered compelling highlights of the report to Members of Congress at a briefing last week.  Their main message: “We have potential. Don’t let the foster care system write us off.” The youth, 15 leaders from across the country who, due to abuse or neglect, spent the majority of their lives in foster care, were interns for Members of Congress this summer including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). Their mission is to speak for the almost 410,000 children still in the foster care system – children who are being left behind.

“It’s a shame it takes a death of a child for policymakers to take notice of psychotropic medication abuse within child welfare agencies. How many more foster children have to die before policymakers and child welfare professionals realize that this is a national crisis and not a state-to-state issue? We need to hold states accountable for the safety of these children by creating a national benchmark,” said former foster youth Madison Sandoval-Lunn from Las Vegas.

Marjorie Delgadillo, a former foster youth from California, called on Members to take action on behalf of immigrant children in foster care, who make up 10 percent of children in care.  Delgadillo was specifically concerned with children whose parents were undocumented. According to Delgadillo, “The real tragedy is that while the federal government provided some special protections for these vulnerable children almost 20 years ago, states are simply not using them to protect kids.”

Several of the youth stressed the importance of education, an area that is consistently overlooked.  As a result, only 50 percent of youth in foster care graduate from high school, and less than 3 percent go on to graduate from college.  Insight as to why this is the case and ways that it can be improved are included in the full report.

“Each year some of the most passionate and upstanding young men and women are a part of CCAI’s Foster Youth Internship program. They come to Washington not only as interns, but as the collective voice of every child in the U.S. foster care system,” said Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.), co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, “It is a privilege to continue to work alongside these tremendous youth as they fight for the much needed change in child welfare policy.”

Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif.), also a Coalition co-chair, stated “CCAI deserves tremendous credit for giving opportunity to former foster youth through their inspiring internship program. The participants are champions who are overcoming the odds to make a difference in their lives and in the welfare of their communities. We will be hearing for years to come about the achievements of these wonderful young leaders.”

Representative Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), also a Coalition co-chair added “Each summer, CCAI’s Foster Youth Interns fill a valuable role in offices across Capitol Hill. As a foster mother of 23, I know these young people have overcome tremendous challenges in their short lives. I commend the foster youth for doing exceptional work during their internships and I wish them every bit of success in their future. I am confident CCAI will continue their excellent work running the Foster Youth Internship Program which provides these youth with important experience and a taste of Capitol Hill.”

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TV star Willie Garson premiers adoption PSA

In an interview with Willie Garson, actor and star of USA Network’s White Collar, Garson talks about his character, Mozzie, who the show revealed last night was in foster care as a child.  Garson used this opportunity to talk about his son Nathen who he adopted from California’s foster care system.  The interview focuses on his experience adopting and the adjustment period.  Garson talks about using his celebrity to bring awareness to this issue and correct misconceptions in hopes of finding loving families for children in foster care.

“You know there’s a lot of kids out there, especially, I think, more so in this economy, there’s a lot of kids out there that for some reason that their parents are not able to take care of them, and there’s people who can take care of them, and they should be aware of that. […]  There’s nothing more satisfying then sharing a life with a child, nothing more satisfying. I get much more out of it than anything I give out.”

 

Foster Care Month press conference on Capitol Hill today

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and U.S. Rep. Karen Bass held a press conference today to mark National Foster Care Month.  Two long-time foster care champions, Landrieu and Bass shared their personal history and connection to this vital issue, as did former foster youth working on Capitol Hill and in D.C., including a staff member working in Senator Landrieu’s office.  On this same day, Bass introduced the Foster Care Mentoring Act, the companion bill to legislation introduced by Senator Landrieu in March.

Celebrate National Foster Care Month

This month, foster care advocates across the country will be celebrating National Foster Care Month in hopes of raising awareness about the needs of children in foster care and highlighting the good work being done on their behalf.

Over 423,000 children are currently in foster care in the U.S.  Of these, 115,000 are waiting to be adopted.  It is important that we devote resources to ensuring these children can be moved into safe and loving homes to experience the stability and hope for a future that each child wants and deserves.

To show support for this important issue, President Obama issued a National Foster Care Month proclamation which states, “Progress in America can be measured by the opportunities we pass on to our children.  For nearly half a million youth in foster care across our country, the best path to success we can give them is the chance to experience a loving home where they can feel secure and thrive.  During National Foster Care Month, we renew our commitment to ensuring a brighter future for foster youth, and we celebrate the selfless individuals who make a meaningful difference in their lives.”

I want to encourage you to use this month as an opportunity to get more involved in this effort in hopes of improving the lives of children in foster care forever.  It does not take much to make a difference—here are some easy ways you can celebrate this month:

  • Post on your twitter or facebook about the needs of children in foster care and encourage others to step forward
  • Attend an information session at your local Child and Family Services office to learn about mentoring, fostering, or adopting
  • Encourage your local, state, and federal elected officials to show their support through media or event appearances
  • Ask your community group, local organizations, or church to highlight foster children during this month

For other ideas and information, visit the National Foster Care Month website, Adoption.com, or the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

When the school of hard knocks sets its sights on the pinnacle of power

CCAI Advisory Board Member Lindsay Ellenbogen writes about a former Foster Youth Intern for the The Hill‘s pundits blog today:

When Jetaine Hart came to Washington in 2009, she was well-accustomed to cramming the trappings of her life into a few small suitcases and moving them from place to place. By age 20, she moved to six different homes in northern California, each time uprooting the familiar for the unknown. Jetaine wasn’t what we affectionately call an “Army brat,” whose family moved periodically as service required; she was a child in foster care. Moving was not her choice; it’s what happened to her by chance.

But the move to Washington was different: first, because she wanted it; and second, because it was filled with promise, opportunity. Through a little-known program on Capitol Hill that gives former foster youth access to the privileged world of summer internships, Jetaine applied for a chance to start her professional life. Each year, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute selects 15 kids who spent time in foster care and places them in congressional offices. To qualify, these talented interns must attend college, a high bar that less than 3 percent of kids in foster care reach. Jetaine, with bachelor’s in hand, started her climb on Capitol Hill in the office of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

Read the full article here.

Jetaine