Fischer, Hickenlooper, Bacon Reintroduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Foster Care Legislation

U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-02) this week reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to provide children in pre-placement foster care with better access to essential supplies like clothing, food, and other necessities. The Foster Care Stabilization Act would authorize grants to foster care stabilization agencies to provide emergency relief and improve pre-placement services.

"No child entering foster care should have to worry about basic necessities," Fischer said. "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."

"Children entering foster care are already carrying too heavy a burden,"Hickenlooper said."We should do everything we can to ease that transition."

"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,"Bacon said."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."

"We are thankful for our delegations' dedication and leadership to understanding the trends, needs and problems for today's at-risk foster child. Our leaders also understand creative solutions are imperative to help stop the tremendous hurtful cycle that the foster care system can attack on a young life," Leigh Esau, Executive Director of Nebraska Foster Care Closet, said.

Background:

At any given time, over 4,000 children are in foster care in Nebraska. 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. These agencies are non-profits, including community and faith-based organizations.

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:

1. Hire personnel
2. Secure clothing or personal necessities for foster youth
3. Purchase food and food preparation equipment for foster youth
4. Offer services to prevent and respond to child abuse
5. Address any other emergency assistance needed to promote the safety and self-sufficiency of foster youth.

Click here to read the text of the bill.