Prepared Statement by Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Senate Caucus on Foster Youth
National Foster Care Month
May 16, 2018
Mr. President, The Senate will soon be taking up my resolution recognizing May as National Foster Care Month.
For over 20 years, National Foster Care Month has been recognized as a time to raise awareness about the challenges youth in foster care experience, and to celebrate their resiliency in the face of these obstacles.
There are over 438,000 children in foster care nationwide. In Iowa alone, over 4,000 kids entered foster care in 2016.
Due to the opioid crisis, there are more children entering foster care than many child welfare agencies are equipped to handle.
In 2016, over 92,000 kids entered foster care due to parental drug abuse.
I salute all those who dedicate their time and resources to help these youth.
This induces social workers, advocates, and alumni of the foster care system, who inform lawmakers and the public, and fight to secure better outcomes for kids in care.
Of course this also includes foster parents, who open their homes and hearts to children in need.
Without foster parents, children unable to remain with their biological parents would have nowhere to go.
Unfortunately, this is becoming a reality for children across the country as many states are experiencing a critical shortage of foster parents.
In my home state of Iowa, many counties are facing a shortage of foster homes, causing kids to be housed in shelters instead of with families.
But the solution is not simply recruiting more people to serve as foster parents.
Between 30 and 50 percent of licensed foster parents choose to stop being foster parents after only one year.
That’s why this year, our resolution designates May 31 as Foster Parent Appreciation Day. It is my hope that communities, child welfare agencies, and other organizations will use this day to recognize the sacrifices that foster parents make.
Those who do not choose to continue being foster parents often report that a lack of support and training is the reason.
At a time where foster parents are needed more than ever, it is important for communities and child welfare agencies to support foster parents and ensure that they are trained to help the kids entrusted to them.
Through my work on the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, I’ve had the opportunity to hear firsthand what children in foster care need.
They need love, permanency, stability, and support. In short, they need a family.
That’s why I’m pleased that Congress recently passed the Family First Prevention Services Act.
This legislation works to keep more families together by allowing federal reimbursement for services to families before children are put in foster care, not after the fact.
These services include substance abuse treatment, and in-home parenting skills programs.
And when it’s truly in a child’s best interest to be removed from their parents, this bill ensures that more kids will be placed with supportive families, instead of in group homes.
Of course there is still work to be done. Far too many children still experience the trauma of neglect and abuse, and far too many youth in foster care age out without a meaningful connection to a caring adult.
Moving forward, Congress must continue to listen to the voices of foster youth, foster parents, and other advocates by working to find better solutions and secure better outcomes for youth in foster care.
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