Press Releases

Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Introduces Bipartisan Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2021
May 11, 2021
Press Release

WASHINGTON— Today, the Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Foster Youth Mentoring Act of 2021 to connect young people in foster care, and young people with experience in foster care, with mentors and provide invaluable support to the agencies and organizations that seek to improve outcomes for foster youth through these positive relationships.

Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Formally Recognizing May As National Foster Care Month
May 11, 2021
Press Release

WASHINGTON— Today, the Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize May 2021 as National Foster Care Month.

Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chairs Mark National Foster Care Month
May 1, 2021
Press Release
“National Foster Care Month is a month to recognize the successes and challenges of the more than 400,000 foster youth across the country and to acknowledge the tireless efforts of those who work to improve outcomes for children in the child welfare system every day. Making sure that all children have a permanent and loving home is not a Democratic or Republican issue—it should be an American priority.
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chairs Mark National Foster Care Month
May 1, 2021
Press Release
WASHINGTON— Today, the Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), and Don Bacon (R-NE) issued the following statement marking May as National Foster Care Month
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chairs Introduce the Pandemic Protection for Transition-Age Foster Youth Act
May 13, 2020
Press Release

WASHINGTON— Today, the Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Paul Mitchell (R-MI), and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) introduced the Pandemic Protection for Transition-Age Foster Youth Act of 2020, which protects transition-age foster youth during the COVID pandemic response by allowing young people who are already in foster care and/or participating in the Jo

Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-Chairs Commemorate May As National Foster Care Month
May 1, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON— Today, the Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Paul Mitchell (R-MI), and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) issued the following statement marking the beginning of National Foster Care Month.
 
“National Foster Care Month is a month to recognize the successes and challenges of the more than 400,000 foster youth across the country and to acknowledge the tireless efforts of those who work to improve outcomes for children in the child welfare system every day.
CCFY Chairs Urge Governors To Remember Foster Youth In COVID-19 Pandemic
April 16, 2020
Press Release

WASHINGTON - Today the Co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth (CCFY) sent a letter to Governors urging them to consider the needs of transition-age foster youth as they implement their COVID-19 pandemic response plans.  In the letter, Representatives Jim Langevin (D-RI), Karen Bass (D-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), and Paul Mitchell (R-MI), the CCFY Co-chairs, express concern that transition-age foster youth are suffering serious social and economic hardship during this disaster -- from homelessness to food insecurity and a lack of healthcare.

Reps. Davis, Bass Urge Colleges and Universities To Consider Foster Youth In Coronavirus Precautions
March 12, 2020
Press Release
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Chair of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support, and Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, encouraged colleges and universities to include vulnerable students and foster youth when making provisions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The press conference also featured Shay House, a graduate student foster youth advocate who discussed the impact that these actions would have on students in the foster care system.
Caucus Collaborates On Policy Dinner Focusing On Underground Adoptions
December 10, 2019
Press Release
Underground adoptions take place when legal adoptions are disrupted, which can lead to tragic consequences such as children being trafficked in the hands of pedophiles.
 
Monday's event, which was hosted by the National Foster Youth Institute, featured a panel of experts who will discussed the dangerous phenomenon and how Congress can help prevent it.
 
Congressman Jim Langevin (D-Rhode Island) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) have introduced legislation to combat unregulated custody transfers (UCT) of adopted children to st
CCFY Co-Chairs Introduce Legislation To Develop And Enhance Kinship Navigator Programs
September 17, 2019
Press Release

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, introduced the Supporting Kinship Connections Act, which would provide grants to states, tribes (including tribal consortia), territories or community-based organizations to develop, enhance, and evaluate Kinship Navigator programs.