Foster parenting

Children Uniting Nations event highlights efforts to improve the lives of America's children in foster care.

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today urged lawmakers and youth advocates to expand mentoring programs for children and young adults in foster care. Sen. Landrieu's comments came at a breakfast event kicking off the Children Uniting Nations (CUN) 4th Annual "Keeping the Promise to our Children" conference in Washington, D.C.    » read more »

03/09/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement today in support of extending AFDC-FC benefits to California’s foster youth up to the age of 21:

“I am committed to working with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg on a bipartisan solution that ensures our children and youth in foster care are provided with the tools needed to succeed at life. Along with our federal partners, together we can better equip our youth by making sure they continue to have access to important resources and services as they transition into adulthood. I look forward to continue working across the aisle with the legislature and our federal and local partners on an issue important to so many Californians.”    » read more »

Washington, D.C. - 11/19/2007 - American Indian and Alaskan Native children are overrepresented in the nation's foster care system at more than 1.6 times the expected level, according to a new report by the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) and the national, nonpartisan Kids Are Waiting campaign, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Yet tribal governments are excluded from some of the largest sources of federal child welfare funding.    » read more »

November 13, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced legislation today to provide individual development accounts to youth ‘aging out’ of foster care. The Focusing Investments and Resources for a Safe Transition (FIRST) Act provides foster youth financial support for critical independent living needs as they set out to develop self-sufficient, goal-oriented lives beyond the child welfare system. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Mary Landrieu are original cosponsors of the legislation.    » read more »

November 8, 2007 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) – Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Attorney General Jim Hood announced today that the state has reached a settlement in the foster care suit, Olivia Y. et al. v. Haley Barbour et al., pending in federal court against The Department of Human Services. The Office of the Governor, Department of Human Services and the Attorney General’s Office worked closely in negotiating the settlement that will benefit the children in foster care and the State of Mississippi.

The terms of the settlement include:    » read more »

Attorney General Marc Dann says concern for the safety of Ohio’s children was at the heart of the issue

October 30, 2007 -- COLUMBUS -- More than one year after the murder of three-year-old Marcus Fiesel brought to light a systemic break down of foster care agency, Lifeway for Youth, Inc., the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services revoked the agency’s certification and denied Lifeway’s application for certificate renewal.    » read more »

Bridges to Health Program Will Help Children Avoid Costly Institutional Care

August 20, 2007 -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced a new program to expand support services to thousands of children in foster care with serious disabilities. The Bridges to Health program is the first of its kind in the nation enrolling children in foster care exclusively.    » read more »

August 2, 2007 -- TAMPA – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today ceremonially signed Senate Bill 2114, increasing services for young adults transitioning from foster care to independent living. Governor Crist was joined at the ceremony by Representative Rich Glorioso (R-Plant City) at Connected by 25, an organization that assists youth transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood.    » read more »

Signs Legislation to Improve Child Protection Services; Report shows progress in improving the lives of children in state care; budgets this session and legislation signed today keep Oregon on the right path

June 25, 2007 -- Salem – Today at a bill signing ceremony for a package of legislation aimed to improve Oregon’s child welfare system, the Oregon Governor released a report from the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) that indicates that more children in Oregon exited the foster care system than entered in 2006, reversing a three-year trend and improving stability and pe    » read more »

Foundation to consult on First lady's "For Keeps" foster care initiative

June 25, 2007 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and L. Douglas Wilder, Mayor of the City of Richmond, announced today that the Annie E. Casey Foundation will provide consulting services in an effort to develop family-focused, community-based services for young people.    » read more »

May 4, 2007 -- OLYMPIA - Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today signed into law several measures that will improve opportunities for young people who have been in foster care. The legislation creates the “Passport to College” program for former foster youth, extends health care coverage until the age of 21 and provides housing stipends to low-income young adults who have been in foster care.    » read more »

May 1, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today joined with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents (CAFAP) to announce National Foster Care Month with a new radio campaign to recruit families and mentors for children in need.    » read more »