[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2984-H2988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1945
FOCUSING ON NATIONAL REUNIFICATION MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) is
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
General Leave
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include any extraneous materials on the subject of this
Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I
rise today to coanchor this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order
hour, along with my distinguished colleague, Representative Sheila
Cherfilus-McCormick.
As we commence this CBC Special Order hour, we will dedicate the next
60 minutes to National Reunification Month, focusing on a deeply
concerning issue, the disproportionate separation of Black families by
foster care and welfare services. This critical issue is not just of
concern to the Congressional Black Caucus or Congress but a matter of
significance for all Americans. Let us shed light on these unsettling
realities and provide solutions and champion the reunification of
families across our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick).
Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative
Jonathan Jackson for yielding.
June marks National Reunification Month, allowing us to recognize the
importance of keeping families together and the long-term benefits that
come with stable family structures.
As we observe this month, we must find ways to support the growing
number of Black children who have been unnecessarily placed in foster
care systems. As elected leaders, we must ensure that this trend does
not continue in earnest.
Although the share of Black children in foster care is lower than
ever before, Black children are still drastically overrepresented in
the child welfare system. Across the country, 20 percent of children
entering foster care in fiscal year 2021 were Black, yet Black children
represent just 14 percent of the general population.
In my home State of Florida, it takes an extra 5 days, on average,
for Black children to exit out-of-home care when compared to their
White counterparts. This has been the status quo for far too long. From
2005 to 2021, 1 out of 125 children who identify as Black have been in
foster care at any given point in time. That pains me not only as a
Black American but as a parent.
There are several factors behind these glaring statistics, but they
stem in large part from a combination of historical trauma and
structural and systemic racism. Families of color are more likely to
live in communities marked by historic disinvestment. High poverty
rates have been exacerbated by poor housing conditions, limited access
to employment opportunities and healthy food, as well as other
components that are critical to raising children.
Through no fault of their own, many Black families have found it
difficult to meet basic family needs and raise their children in safe,
stable homes.
Our Nation needs to course correct. Research shows that children have
better outcomes in life when their own families safely nurture and care
for them. When a child must be removed from their parents, it is
profoundly distressing for the entire family.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the passage of the Family
First Prevention Services Act. This law changed how we look at child
welfare, focusing on families as a whole. I also helped fund evidence-
based, prevention-focused activities, like those that address mental
health needs and in-home parent skill-based programs. As we celebrate
its anniversary, we must continue to fund programs that keep our
children out of foster care and provide parents with the support they
need.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick for her great words.
[[Page H2985]]
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Jackson for
yielding. I am so happy to be joining him and Representative Sheila
Cherfilus-McCormick for this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order
hour. Indeed, it is a special honor to talk about our children and what
they need.
I am so proud to be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Not
only am I a member of this esteemed body that is concerned about foster
youth, but I am also a member of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on
Foster Youth, and I serve in that caucus as one of the six bipartisan
chairs.
I thank the CBC and its members who supported the Congressional
Caucus on Foster Youth's Shadow Day this past June 14, last week. I
thank all the Members of the House who took time to allow a former
foster youth to join them in their day's activities as well as to hear
from and learn from their shadows.
If you didn't have a foster youth this year, be sure that Gwen Moore
will be calling upon you next year to enjoy this important experience
and feedback between the delegates and Members.
My fellow CBC members, in particular, demonstrated their commitment
to this special community through graciously hosting a former foster
youth in their office for 1 day and addressing the whole delegation and
cohort of 30 former foster youth from across the country, representing
20 States, directly during the youth's townhall meeting.
I thank those CBC members who stepped up last week to host a shadow,
including my Congressional Foster Youth Caucus co-chair, Representative
Sydney Kamlager-Dove; my Ways and Means Committee work fam subcommittee
ranking member and longtime foster youth advocate, Representative
Danny Davis of Illinois; and others, including Representative Emanuel
Cleaver, Representative Terri Sewell, Representative Bobby Scott,
Representative Barbara Lee, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee,
Representative Summer Lee, Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick,
and Representative Shontel Brown.
Mr. Speaker, I will give a special shout-out to Representative Maxine
Waters, who was busy with her committee and didn't actually take a
shadow, but she met and spoke with one of the students that I shadowed
and made his day. He was someone who was born in Los Angeles, and it
made his day to meet the Honorable Maxine Waters.
We also went over to the Senate side and met with Senator Booker. My
particular shadow, Theron, is someone who is a licensed therapist, and
his experience in foster care is that it is easier to get in trouble
and to come in contact with the juvenile justice system for doing
nothing but being a foster youth. He wants to make sure that we put a
focus on the juvenile justice system with regard to its nexus with
foster care.
We have to stop the foster care-to-prison pipeline, Mr. Speaker.
These are things that our foster youth are telling us.
I represented two outstanding foster youth, Shay Grey Woods and
Theron Ogedengbe. Just like all the foster youth that I have gotten to
know and had the privilege to participate with during Shadow Day,
including the late Dosha ``DJay'' Joi, I have been the student. I have
learned from them. They have informed me about the kinds of legislative
initiatives that need to occur and what we need to do.
Mr. Speaker, just let me say, these foster youth who come here every
year are leaders. These are people who have somehow overcome the many
barriers that foster youth experience, and they are able to be a voice
to speak for them. We should not think that because we meet these
brilliant, young, educated foster youth that there aren't thousands
more of them who are falling through the cracks for want of our
guidance and care.
It is a reminder. I remind you that behind all these statistics,
there are real people and real stories that demonstrate their
incredible resilience and hope that they have.
The reason that I am really proud of Shadow Day is because it
elevates the voices of the over 377,000 children in out-of-home care as
of the end of 2021.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, disproportionately, Black children are
overrepresented in the child welfare system. In my own home State of
Wisconsin, 28 percent of the youth in out-of-home placements were Black
or African American, whereas African-American youth in Wisconsin only
constitute 9 percent of the population. They are overrepresented by
three times.
The data from the United States as a whole is similarly
disproportionate, with 22 percent of children in the United States in
out-of-home care being Black and only 14 percent of youth in the
general population being African American.
When you say that you want to lift up National Reunification Month,
it is something we need to lift up because we have all heard the old
adage that you divide and conquer. This is our future workforce. These
are our future builders, doctors, teachers, people who repair our
roofs, and it is just about impossible to do that when they start out
with so many adverse childhood experiences, like being separated from
their birth parents, sometimes unnecessarily.
In a perfect world, no children would ever be separated. Of course,
we understand that sometimes that is in the best interests of the
children. Far too often, it is our policies under our child welfare
system and our welfare system and our unwillingness to support parents
where they are that are creating these out-of-home placements.
I want to talk about some very specific reasons that children are
taken out of these homes, if you will bear with me.
Child neglect is the number one reason that children are taken out of
these homes. No one wants children to be neglected. Not a single person
in the United States Congress would want a child to be stuck in a home
where they were being abused and neglected.
That is really an overstatement of what actually happens. What
actually happens is there are a lot of people who have more month than
money. If you come to June 26 and the resources for that household have
dried up, with some of the most onerous policies that we have around
who can get SNAP, also called food stamps, and when you think about
parents living in situations where 48 percent of their income has to go
for housing, and not necessarily good housing--houses with lead paint
in them and lead pipes and vermin, and they are still paying almost
half their income for housing, we see a situation where children can
easily be loved yet neglected.
One of the things that I am going to do is reintroduce, as I have
done for several cycles, the Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act. I
want to reinforce the notion that these agencies should not be
snatching kids out of their homes when providing maybe some SNAP or
other resources to the family could preserve that family.
{time} 2000
It is in the best interest of children to be at home if they can be.
My bill would make it so much harder for these agencies to use poverty
as a rationale to pulling families apart.
I am looking for other ways to do it. I don't want to take up all the
time, but I just want to mention a second reason that children are
placed out of home, it is because of parental substance abuse.
Mr. Jackson, I have known you and your family for a long time, so I
know that you recall how substance abuse has become a real curse in
this country. Drug affliction and addiction happens in every corner of
the United States. How is it treated?
In some communities where there are fentanyl addictions, which are
tragic; meth addictions, which are tragic; opioid addictions, which are
tragic, we are proposing government interventions to help people. But
when children of foster families become addicted, they are treated
often like criminals and have their children taken from them instead of
them being offered treatment.
So this year's theme for National Reunification Month is ``We believe
in the resiliency and strength of our families.'' If that is going to
be our motto, Mr. Jackson, we ought to do something to reinforce this
strength and resilience and not just talk about it.
We need policies that match this audacious goal. Policies like the
new exemption from SNAP time arbitrary and
[[Page H2986]]
harmful time limits in the Fiscal Responsibility Act for former foster
youth up to age 24.
The White House has done a marvelous job, they estimated that as many
as 50,000 youth who have aged out of foster care will now be exempt
from onerous timelines which say that in the 3-year period you could
only be eligible for SNAP for 3 months. In 3 years you can only get
SNAP if you are an adult, but we have exempted foster youth from that
provision because who do we know, Representative Jackson, who is 18 or
19 on their own and can figure it out? I know I was still eating at
home when I was 19.
I am so proud, again, of you and Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick for
spending this time to lift this up to our community and our
constituents. I am inspired by your dedication and recommitted to
working with you as we move forward.
I thank you for yielding to me, Mr. Jackson.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honorable Gwen
Moore from Wisconsin, who so eloquently and passionately articulated
the plight of reunification and the challenges that lie before us.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, the gentleman from
Illinois and the gentlewoman from Florida, for their leadership in the
Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour this First Session of the
118th Congress.
They have demonstrated, even as freshmen, their leadership and
breadth of knowledge of the issues that are important to the members of
the Congressional Black Caucus. I thank both of them for their
outstanding leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss June as National Reunification
Month. It is a time to recognize the people who work daily to help
families stay together. I know this issue personally.
Last Wednesday, I had the honor of hosting a young constituent from
my district during Foster Youth Shadow Day. We spent the day discussing
legislative process and I showed her around Congress. I was impressed
with her questions and intelligence. She deserves to grow up in a
loving and supportive household. She is one reason we must do more to
help families stay together in healthy environments.
There are anywhere from 300,000 to 400,000 children in foster care
nationwide. Yet too many children are removed from households before
parents receive the services necessary to avoid such an action. This
situation is worse in Black communities.
Black families are more likely to be investigated by child protective
services and lose children than White families. Black children spend
more time in foster care, and they are less likely to be reunified with
their families.
Family reunification is better for these children overall. The youth
that shadowed me the other day talked about where her siblings were and
that they weren't together. Even though she is not with them, she tries
to keep track of them, being the eldest, and has worked to make sure
that she stays in their lives.
Research shows that children have better outcomes in life when they
grow up in families that nurture and care for them. There is hope for
children in traumatic households before they even enter foster care.
This year marks the 5th anniversary of the passage of the Family First
Prevention Services Act.
This law made funding available for resources and activities to make
families healthier and safer for children. These resources include
programs to address mental health and substance abuse issues in the
home. Also, these programs help fathers and mothers become better
parents.
We need to identify families at risk sooner so we can implement these
programs before child removal becomes necessary. We need to increase
funding for more preventative services, such as home visits. Studies
show that home visits lower the rate of child maltreatment, the leading
cause of child removal. In addition, there are kin placements.
Right now there are 2.5 million children who are being raised by
relatives or close family friends. Research has found that children
staying with a relative or a friend have better behavior, mental
health, and physical health than children in foster care. They are
allowed to grow up in their culture and stay connected to their
families. Children do best with their own families.
That is why we must provide more resources to families to prevent
children from being removed at all. Healthy families are better for
children, and they are better for America.
As I stated, my colleague prior to me, the Honorable Gwen Moore, has
picked up the mantle from one of our great colleagues that has moved on
to lead the metropolis of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, who did an
outstanding job with this program, the Foster Shadow Youth Day on
Capitol Hill. She was an outstanding leader in that, and Ms. Moore has
picked it up and not lost a beat.
Mr. Speaker, it is an opportunity for us to do the best that we can
to make sure that families stay unified and have a healthy outlook on
life.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honorable Donald
Payne, Jr., from the State of New Jersey for those eloquent words.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick).
Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Caribbean American
Heritage Month, I rise today to recognize Dr. Judith Joseph, who has
helped shine a light on mental health issues and inspired countless
others to seek support.
Dr. Joseph immigrated to the U.S. from Trinidad at the age of 4.
After growing up in a religious community, with a father as a pastor,
Judith became interested in exploring the intersection of spirituality
and science.
Today, she leads a team of 10 talented women at the Manhattan
Behavioral Medicine, who are dedicated to developing and exploring
novel treatments for mental health conditions such as depression,
anxiety, and ADHD.
Dr. Joseph has shared her expertise with a wide audience, using
social media as a positive vehicle for change in a digestible and
accessible manner. I thank Dr. Joseph for her invaluable contribution
to mental health research and education.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, June is National Reunification
Month, an important designation that remains unknown to many, but one
that warrants wider understanding and greater attention. In the grand
tapestry of life, one universal truth weaves its thread throughout--
that none of us can journey far or aim high without some form of
familial structure to ground us. Family, in its various forms and
definitions, provides the anchors we all need.
As we turn our attention to the realities underscored by the data
from fiscal year 2021, a stark and uncomfortable picture emerges that
further emphasizes the urgency of the matter at hand.
{time} 2015
Over the year, investigations of maltreatment involved a staggering
587,330 children in the United States.
Each of these represents a unique story, a child who has faced abuse
or neglect severe enough that allegations of maltreatment were
substantiated, and a life irrevocably scarred by these experiences.
Moreover, this vast number doesn't tell the complete story. Over
200,000 children were placed into the foster care system in that same
year, a heartrending reflection of the urgency and complexity of the
issues that we confront. While these numbers are staggering on their
own, the statistics take on an even darker shade when viewed through
the lens of racial disparities.
The overrepresentation of African-American children in the foster
care system is a disturbing trend that we can no longer ignore.
Despite representing only 14 percent of the general population,
African-American children accounted for 20 percent of the children
entering the foster care system in fiscal year 2021. This
disproportionate representation extends to multiracial children as
well, revealing a systemic bias that must be addressed.
In certain States, this disproportionality is even more pronounced,
spotlighting a deeply rooted racial bias that is pervasive and
detrimental. The repercussions of these disparities stretch far beyond
the immediate impact, creating a ripple effect that touches every
aspect of these children's lives, from their education and
[[Page H2987]]
mental health to their future economic opportunities.
Taking a broader perspective, if we look back over the span from 2005
to 2021, the data paints an even more troubling picture. During this
period, an alarming one out of every 125 children identifying as Black
or African American found themselves in foster care at any given point
in time. This points to a deep-seated systemic issue that transcends
temporal and geographical boundaries, further underscoring the urgent
need for reform.
Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today not just as an elected
Representative, but as a living testament to this profound truth. I am
an embodiment of the power of familial support and a witness to the
transformative impact it can have on a child's life. It is within the
secure confines of a loving family that a child can break free from the
constraints of financial, existential, and emotional insecurity, daring
to dream bigger, reach higher, and grow more fully.
A grim reality, however, casts a long shadow over our Nation--the
practice of unnecessary family separations. This is not a side issue or
a minor concern, but a grave matter that demands serious attention and
conscious action from each of us.
The current system as it stands is marred by prejudice and
arbitrariness, permitting the removal of children from their families
without the absolute justification of immediate harm. This is a
practice that we must challenge, question, and ultimately transform.
The era must come to an end when social workers and others were
permitted to pass judgment on a family's worthiness based on race,
economic status, or cultural and religious beliefs. A family's
integrity should not be a matter for prejudiced scrutiny but respected
as the bedrock of our society.
It is crucial to emphatically state that Black children, like all
children, need the nurturing care of their parents. They need to
experience life's joys and challenges within the safety net of their
own families, enriching their identity and strengthening their roots.
There exists a blatant contradiction when some claim to champion the
cause of families while simultaneously supporting policies that
splinter their very familial structures.
How can one profess commitment to family values while advocating for
policies that fundamentally undermine the very foundation of families?
Every family, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or geographical
origin, has an undeniable right to raise their children in an
environment free from undue governmental interference and unwarranted
judgment from uninvested bureaucrats. Be they Black, Hispanic,
indigenous, Asian, from the Appalachia, or from the South Side of
Chicago, every family deserves this opportunity.
Perhaps it is time to look inward and address the root issues that
plague our society. If we ensured a living wage for our workers, would
we not see a reduction in the number of children entering the foster
care system?
If we treated the root causes of addiction, would we not see fewer
children that would need to be separated from their families?
Moreover, if we could cease making assumptions based on racial
stereotypes about families different from our very own view, we might
prevent the stigmatization of countless children. We might stop
reducing them to mere cogs in the machinery of systemic racism and
bigotry and instead acknowledge their individuality, their potential,
and their dreams.
Today, I implore each and every one of us and you to present this to
the House and to lend your ears to the voices that often go unheard.
Listen to the stories of children and young people in the foster care
system, their struggles, their hopes, and their dreams. Remember the
dedicated caretakers who selflessly serve these children. Children who
have been placed in the foster care system, for reasons reckless or
legitimate, must never be rendered invisible or forgotten.
We must always remember that their lives matter. Their dreams are of
critical importance to the tapestry of our future. Their spiritual,
psychological, and emotional well-being is an essential cornerstone of
the America we aspire to become.
A child living with criticism--we have heard--learns to condemn. A
child exposed to hostility learns to fight. A child steeped in shame
learns guilt. However, if we raise a child in an environment filled
with encouragement, fairness, and approval, then they learn to be
confident, just, and to love themselves.
Our government's paramount responsibility is to the welfare of our
children. This responsibility outweighs any issues of national security
or economic superiority. It is the heart and soul of representative
government. Our constituents did not elect us to represent their vested
interests but to defend and advance policies that secure a brighter and
better future for their children.
Nobody sent us here to indulge in meaningless squabbles. We were not
elected to be rulers of insignificant territories. We were chosen to
represent their hopes and dreams and to make the task of raising and
keeping families together easier.
As we recently celebrated Juneteenth, we remember what formerly
enslaved Africans did after their emancipation. History bears witness
that they walked great distances in search of family members who had
been sold away and taken from them. They traversed the length and
breadth of the South, driven by an indomitable spirit and an unwavering
resolve to reunite their families. This is the spirit we should embody
as we observe National Reunification Month.
The Congressional Black Caucus members will not stand by and watch
families be torn apart in America again. No child should be thrust into
a system unless they are in immediate danger. This is our pledge, and
this is our solemn promise.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the life of my grandmother,
Gertrude Brown, who was a foster child who was orphaned at the age of
14. I represent her indomitable spirit.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the honorable gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs.
Cherfilus-McCormick).
Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my co-chair,
Representative Jonathan Jackson, for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, in honor of Caribbean American Heritage Month, I rise
today to recognize Phyllisia Ross, whose prowess as a musician has
allowed her to create unique music that reflects her Caribbean
heritage. Since the age of 3, Ross has developed her craft of singing
and playing the piano. In 2006, Ross graduated from the world-renowned
A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Throughout her career, she has been able to incorporate several
styles of genres in her music, ranging from classical to R&B, as well
as world music in several languages. Her hit single ``Konsa'' is
emblematic of her unique talents, paying homage to her Haitian roots in
its kompa production style.
Ross has brought her music around the globe--everywhere from the
Ivory Coast to Jamaica--touching audiences worldwide. In addition, Ross
also runs and operates her own independent music production company and
has helped mentor young artists.
I am proud to represent Ross and her extensive artistic contributions
to the Caribbean community and to the United States.
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honorable Sheila
Cherfilus-McCormick for her remarks.
Mr. Speaker, you have heard from my distinguished colleagues about
family reunification.
I thank the Congressional Black Caucus chairman, Mr. Steve Horsford.
I thank the Honorable Gwen Moore. I thank the Honorable Donald Payne,
Jr. I thank my honorable colleagues who joined us today on all issues
of great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus, our
constituents, Congress, and all Americans tonight.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, June 2023 marks National Reunification
Month, honoring those who work tirelessly to keep families together
across the nation.
Here we are, recognizing the individuals and continuing initiatives
that support keeping families together.
The topic for this year's reunification is ``Shifting Power and
Reconnecting Families All Year Long.''
The three important themes during Reunification Month include:
[[Page H2988]]
1. The fact that we should celebrate parents and children who have
successfully reunited and understand how challenging an accomplishment
it may be.
2. Celebrate child welfare professionals, kin caregivers, and
resource families who helped make reunification a reality for parents
and children. And lastly . . .
3. Inspire parents and professionals who are currently involved in
child welfare to see that Reunification Matters and Reunification
Happens.
It is also a good time to commit once more to supporting, enhancing,
and intensifying these initiatives all year long.
By definition, the child welfare system is a collection of programs
and services aimed at optimizing children's well-being by ensuring
their safety, establishing durability, and aiding their families.
The operation and provision of child welfare services may vary from
state to state, but all states are accountable for adhering to federal
and state laws.
And yet, the stress of involvement in the child welfare system and
foster care placement instability can contribute to or exacerbate
mental health problems, and a child's unmet physical and mental health
requirements have been related to placement instability.
I want to acknowledge that there are too many, particularly Black and
African American children, unnecessarily taken from their homes and
placed in foster care.
Not only are child protective agencies more likely to investigate
Black homes, remove their children, and place them in foster care, but
Black children are prone to spend more time in foster care and are less
likely to be reunified with their families.
Research tells us that Black children are less likely to be reunified
than White and Hispanic children, older children are less likely to be
reunified and children with health or mental health issues are less
likely to be reunited.
In addition, more than 200,000 kids entered foster care, and 587,330
of those cases of maltreatment or neglect have been documented
nationwide.
Every child deserves a village of support.
In Houston, there are well over 2,000 children currently in the
foster care system.
Texas alone response times the hotline to report child abuse,
neglect, or exploitation, increased by half a minute, with callers
waiting on hold an average of 5.2 minutes, since the January 2022
report.
Furthermore, research on kinship care has indicated that children
placed with relatives have better behavior, mental health, and well-
being than children placed in non-relative foster care, and that
children placed with family have higher placement stability.
Older foster youth have the same needs as younger children for a safe
and loving family that will support them into maturity.
It is extremely unfair that youth who age out of foster care are more
likely to encounter homelessness, unemployment, early parenthood, and
substance abuse. That is why I congratulate the Hay Center for using
Federal Block grant funds to build housing for aged out youth with
wraparound services in Houston.
The needs, experiences, and voices of children and youth in foster
care as well as their families and aretakers need to be lifted.
Everyone has a part to play in making communities and families
stronger and lowering the need for foster care in a secure manner.
This year commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Family First
Prevention Services Act's passage.
I am astounded that the passage of this law, that emphasis on the
child alone was replaced with one that included the family as well.
Family First made financing available for a variety of authorized
evidence-based prevention-focused programs, such as those to address
mental health issues, substance use disorders, and to offer parental
skills-building.
Family First prevention plans have been filed by 45 states including
Texas and 4 tribes to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
and several have already started putting them into practice.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the need for more innovative
ways, like telehealth, to provide mental health services to children,
youth, and their caretakers.
Several state child welfare agencies are co-designing techniques to
design with individuals and communities rather than for them. This
method elevates the voices and experiences of adolescents, parents,
relatives, and foster parents.
The Harris County Plan of Safe Care Steering Committee is a cross-
sector group of organizations from academia, child welfare, healthcare,
justice, public safety, and substance use disorder prevention
treatment.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services operates a
``Treatment Foster Family Care'' program to stabilize children at risk
of placement in a congregate care setting or psychiatric hospital who
experience emotional, behavioral, or mental health difficulties.
Transforming the child welfare system will require the development of
new policies, practices, and infrastructures that prioritize prevention
and the well-being of children and families.
As well as meaningful participation of those with lived experience in
all stages of reform planning, development, and implementation.
Many people find the process of receiving assistance to be
unnecessarily difficult.
Not to mention the overwhelmingly horrifying number of children who
are placed in unlicensed homes.
It is illegal to place children overnight in unlicensed facilities,
but because of mounting demand, children are sleeping in such places
anyway.
The harm to faster children goes beyond loneliness and missed meals.
It saddens me to know foster children have been subjected to physical
and sexual abuse in these temporary placements.
Children have gone missing while in state care and some have been
groomed for sexual trafficking.
CPS workers--trained for case management, not therapeutic care--have
their hands tied in how to respond.
We are talking about traumatized children who have been subjected to
abuse and neglect.
Children who are now being housed in temporary residential treatment
centers or temporary group homes under the supervision of CPS staff.
Placement into foster care is a significant and traumatic experience
in the life of a child, and for their family.
That is why we need to work to support and strengthen families and
prevent unnecessary removals of children from their homes.
Too often, the perspectives of children, youth, and families, have
been silenced in debates about how communities may improve their
approach to child and family well-being.
We should all believe in hope.
Hope is the belief by a family that despite the challenges they face,
the strength and support of neighbors and others in the community will
help them to overcome and thrive.
Childhood should be some of the most beautiful moments of your life.
No one person young or old should endure what many of our nation's
people are experiencing.
No child left behind means exactly that.
Our children are the future, the past and most importantly the
present.
Do not take your focus off of the important and what some may deem
``touchy'' subjects, because they are the most pivotal in the end.
They are all of our children and every one of us is needed to
safeguard and protect them.
As co-chair of the Children's Caucus, I encourage all of us to
continue to dig deeper, love more and reach out to children in need.
As Members of Congress, it is our duty to do even more to ensure all
safeguards are in place and to uphold laws, and to create or amend laws
where needed.
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