Dingell Introduces National Foster Care Improvement Legislation in Honor of Samier Amer

"The well-being and safety of children must be a top priority across the board, but especially when a child in foster care is being matched with a family," said Congresswoman Dingell. "Whenever possible, we must keep families together and ensure children are placed into a safe and nurturing environment with relatives they know and love. Michigan now has the laws that make this possible, but only after the Amer family lost their children to the state's foster care system. This bill would ensure the federal government follows Michigan's example so future children or families don't have to go through this painful experience."

The Samier Amer Foster Care Improvement Act would require that states provide notice of decision to the child's parents, relatives, or other legal guardian within 90 days of a placement decision. Additionally, the legislation would require states to establish procedures that would allow any of the parties who receive notice of the placement decision to request, within five days after receipt of the notice, documentation of the reasons for the state's decision. It would also allow the child's attorney to petition the court to review the decision and require that the court commence a review within seven days after receipt of the petition.

In 1985, Rehab and Ahmed Amer lost two of their children to Michigan's foster care system after the accidental death of their son, Samier. Although cleared of any wrongdoing, the State refused to return the Amers' children to their custody or allow a relative to care for the children. When Rehab's brother petitioned to be a foster parent to the Amers' children, he was denied even though he had previously served as a foster parent for other children. Since then, the Amer family has advocated tirelessly for improving foster care policies for all children.

Bill text can be found HERE.