advocating for everyone
While the "Issues" page addresses my stance on as many political topics as possible, this page is a dedicated landing pad for more in-depth solutions to make our communities better. Unlike other representatives and candidates, I am willing to do the homework and you have the right to see the results.
In 2014, Congress passed the "Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act" (H.R. 4980), legislation with bipartisan support that required state agencies to develop services for identifying, documenting, and supporting children who are victims of sex trafficking or at high risk of becoming a victim. One of the many sections requires states agencies to ensure children in foster care 14 years or older have the ability to participate in their case planning, which includes outlining their rights as a youth in foster care. This was the first time at the federal level foster youth rights, often compiled into a "foster care bill of rights", were acknowledged.
A common situation that a foster youth might run into regarding their rights, is wanting to participate in extracurricular activities after school. Due to staffing shortages at a facility where this child resides, staff might tell them that they cannot participate as it would increase the difficulties of doing pick-up routes. Without a document outlining that child's right to participate in core childhood activities, they will continue to miss out on a lot of core developmental touchstones—decades of foster youth can attest. A foster youth bill of rights might read like a low-stakes document, but for the child in foster care, it can be a saving factor for having a wholistic childhood. These documents are tools that allow for children to advocate for themselves to their foster parents, facilities, social workers, and even lawyers and judges. These documents are not to be taken for granted.
As of today, 49 of 50 states (yes, the missing state is Alabama...) have a foster youth bill of rights or a document outlining rights at that state's level. Some states, such as California and Florida, have amazing documents due to the expansive rights ensured in their policy, while also being comprehendible by children and young adults alike. In a unique case, Arkansas chose to have a youth bill of rights for all children, whether they are in foster care or not. A lot of states, such as Kansas, have decent "run of the mill" bill of rights where the rights listed might be comprehensive but not helpful to the children when needing to reference in crisis. Meanwhile, some states leave a lot to be desired (looking at you, Tennessee). To illustrate the point from the earlier example, only 31 of the 49 states' documents even mention extracurricular or school activities.
While a first draft, my written proposal, the "Foster Youth Rights for Ensuring a Wholistic Childhood Act" makes sure that all states a.) develop an actual foster youth bill of rights if there is not already one in place, b.) creates better methods of disseminating these rights to foster youth, and c.) sets minimum guidelines and standards for what must be included in a state's foster youth bill of rights. Prior to this bill being formally submitted, I intend to work alongside The National Foster Care Youth & Alumni Policy Council to make sure this legislation represents the voices of those it is effecting.
Articles that show that a national level response for foster youth rights is warranted:
WVLT8 - Tennessee bill could place foster kids in juvenile detention without charges, critics say
Foster Focus - We Can Do Better Than This: The Foster Care Bill of Rights
Sources:
Documents & Links
All documents can be found here.