[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 63 (Monday, May 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E710-E711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING MAY AS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH

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                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 7, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H. Res. 242, 
Recognizing May As National Foster Care Month, I rise to recognize this 
month dedicated to celebrating selfless foster families who open their 
hearts and their homes for children in need as well as rededicate 
myself to ensuring that every child has an opportunity for a brighter 
future.
  I am honored to be a charter member of the Congressional Caucus for 
Foster Youth, a caucus that allows Members to gain a better 
understanding of the current state of foster care throughout the nation 
and identify potential federal policy modifications that could improve 
outcomes for the children in our country's foster care systems. On 
February 24, 2012, in an effort to address many of the ongoing issues 
foster youth face, members of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth 
launched a national listening tour which began in my district.
  Mr. Speaker, currently there are over 463,000 children living in 
foster care. These children have been placed in homes on the account of 
the physical, sexual and emotional abuse they have endured with their 
biological caretaker. My state of California currently has the largest 
foster care population with the number of youths in foster care 
tripling since 1981.
  Sixty-five percent of children who are not placed in a permanent home 
emancipate themselves from the system often left unemployed, without a 
place to live and resorting to homeless shelters. Less than 3 percent 
go on to college and emancipated females end up four times more likely 
to receive public assistance compared to the overall population of the 
United States.
  Almost 30,000 children who are victims of abuse and neglect are 
entrusted to the care of the Los Angeles County Juvenile Dependency 
Court system. The court's primary mission is to ensure that these youth 
are safe, happy and secure. As a result, Los Angeles established the 
country's first courthouse especially designed for children and 
families.
  Mr. Speaker, it is vital that we provide more programs, events, 
activities, and funding that will educate Americans about the success 
of children placed in permanent homes, debunk myths about the process 
and acknowledge the thousands of children who could potentially become 
a part of these statistics. Through these efforts we can increase the 
rate of adoption, decrease the rate of homelessness among the youths in 
this group and help develop future leaders and innovative thinkers of 
tomorrow.
  I would like to take a moment to recognize the families who have 
opened their hearts and homes to foster children. Foster parents play a 
critical role in the lives of some of the most vulnerable youth in 
California and across the country. They help hold our nation's social 
fabric together by ensuring that thousands of young people in this 
country stay on track towards successful futures.
  In addition, I would like to commend SHIELDS for Families, an 
internationally recognized organization in my district that transforms 
the lives of parents by providing them with resources to prevent 
children from going into the foster care system. This month, we 
celebrate these unsung heroes and their efforts to change the lives of 
these children.
  Mr. Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor H.R. 2012, Foster Care Mentoring 
Act, focused on connecting foster youth with responsible and caring 
adults and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact 
legislation that addresses the very real and persisting needs of young 
people in our foster cares system.

[[Page E711]]

  During this month, we recognize all those who are helping to improve 
the lives of children in foster care but it also serves as a reminder 
that more must be done. These children deserve to grow up in a loving 
home that is safe, happy, and most importantly one they can call their 
own.

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