WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today welcomed Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan as the new co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth.
“Senator Stabenow is a hard worker and a good listener,” Grassley said. “She’ll bring her energy and experience to focus on the ways to improve the quality of life of kids in foster care and those who age out of foster care with great challenges.”
“As co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, I will continue to champion the needs of children in foster care,” said Stabenow. “First and foremost, foster children deserve a permanent, safe and loving home, and I look forward to working with Senator Grassley to advocate for these children and young adults.”
Stabenow’s commitment to children in foster care is longstanding. As a state legislator, she sponsored major reforms to Michigan’s foster care system to provide permanent homes for children.
Grassley is the founder and co-chair of Caucus on Foster Youth, formed in 2009 with then-Sen. Mary Landrieu as the other co-chair. The caucus is designed to highlight the voices of current and former youth to advise policymakers on the needs and challenges facing these individuals. The caucus has a particular focus on the young adults who are aging out of the system and face educational challenges, financial literacy needs, risks of homelessness and substance abuse and more at a much higher rate than the general population.
Since 1999, more than 230,000 young adults have aged out of foster care without permanent family connections.
The caucus provides briefings and roundtables for senators and staff by think tank experts, foster care coalitions and other groups close to these kids and familiar with the issues they face. Any legislation enacted on foster youth issues is likely to include significant input from the caucus.
The caucus membership has grown since its founding. Grassley and Stabenow said they look forward to a strong membership in the 114th Congress.
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