Rep. Davis Celebrates Committee Passage of His Bills to Help Older Foster Youth Transition to Adulthood

WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Danny K. Davis (D-IL) celebrated the unanimous passage by the House Committee on Ways and Means of two of his bills to help older foster youth transition to adulthood.

• Rep. Davis and Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) lead the Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act (H.R. 7529) to help foster youth transition to adulthood by resolving legal issues affecting housing, education, employment entry, and family conditions.

• Rep. Davis and Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) lead the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act (H.R. 7655) to help expectant and parenting foster youth receive intensive case management, high-quality home visiting, and resource coordination so they and their children can thrive.

As the top Democrat and Republican on the Subcommittee with jurisdiction over child welfare, Reps. Davis and LaHood have heard from foster youth and advocates about ways to improve the John H. Chafee Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood program, which provides $143 million a year in flexible funding to states, territories, and Indian tribal entities to support older foster youth as they exit care. The Davis bills were part of a package of six bills to help foster youth by improving access to housing, education assistance, legal services, workforce training, and intensive supports focused on needs of expectant and parenting youth.

"Foster youth face numerous challenges as they transition to adulthood - including limited financial, housing, employment, and educational opportunities," said Rep. Davis. "These struggles are even more complicated for young parents, who frequently face additional unique difficulties. Further, foster youth can experience legal needs that often are acute and time-sensitive, threatening a young person's housing, educational goals, income, and family stability at a time when they have the least support."

Davis continued, "I am deeply proud that both bills would make life a bit easier for older foster youth. The Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act would require states to consider legal issues affecting youth as part of case planning and give state the option of using Chafee funds to support legal representation and counseling. The Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act would require Chafee programs to inform youth about the evidence-based and successful Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program as well as encourage states to provide tailored case management and resource coordination to expectant and parenting youth. These bills are important initial improvements to the Chafee program, and I look forward to working with my Republican colleagues to do even more before I retire."

Both bills are supported by over 140 organizations, including: the American Academy of Pediatrics; Brightpoint; Child Welfare League of America; Children's Advocacy Institute; Foster Care Alumni of America; FosterClub; Juvenile Law Center; National Foster Youth Institute; Youth Law Center; and Youth Villages.

• A summary of the Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act is available HERE.
• A summary of the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act is available HERE.