Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Puts Spotlight on Kinship Care at Member Dinner

April 11, 2021

Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Puts

Spotlight on Kinship Care at Member Dinner

WASHINGTON – Members of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth (CCFY), one of the largest bipartisan caucuses in Congress, participated in a dinner last week discussing the importance of expanding and supporting kinship care placements.

The dinner, which was attended by seven Members of Congress, brought together lawmakers, policy leaders, and former foster youth to hear from experts on the issue, including Dr. Angelique Day, Associate Professor at the University of Washington, and Robert Romero, a young adult with lived experience in the foster care system and who has benefited from his kinship placement.

“Kinship care is often overlooked when we talk about reforming our child welfare system, that’s why the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth hosted this important dinner last week,” said Rep. Karen Bass, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. “I look forward to continuing to legislate on this important and bipartisan issue. Congress must deliver for our young people.”

“For children whose parents cannot care for them, kin caregivers play an essential role in reducing trauma, producing better outcomes, and enabling foster youth to maintain pre-existing family and cultural ties,” said Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. “During my final year in Congress, I look forward to working with my CCFY colleagues to support kin caregivers and continue raising awareness of the benefits kinship care can offer foster youth.”

"As Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to help our children in foster care. Leveraging existing connections is one of the best ways that we can strengthen the support system of our foster youth," said Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. "Kinship care placements maintain a foster child's family ties and improve the stability that they need. I’ll continue to work with my congressional colleagues to expand kinship care and advocate for the needs of our foster youth."

“Overwhelming evidence shows foster children do best when they are placed with extended families and when they are with their siblings,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. “Our policies should encourage this when situations allow.”

View photos from the event here.

In the coming months, the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth will mark National Foster Care Month and resume its participation in the Shadow Day program – a week-long program where former foster youth come to Washington, DC to meet with their Member of Congress to discuss ways to reform the child welfare system. The program has not occurred since the beginning of the pandemic.

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Media Inquiries: Zachary.Seidl@mail.house.gov