Schweikert Joins Bipartisan Bill to Provide Support for Foster Youth and Child Welfare Services During COVID-19

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) cosponsored H.R. 7947, the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act. This legislation aims to provide additional temporary support and flexibilities for older foster youth, grandparents and other kinship families, home visiting for pregnant and parenting families, and other child welfare services through the end of FY 2021.

“As someone who has spent many years working with the Arizona foster care system before adopting our daughter, I have seen firsthand the important role our programs can provide for foster youth. I am pleased to join this bipartisan legislation to give these older foster individuals, and families, the support they need during these difficult times, along with crucial resources to utilize after leaving the foster care system.”

Background:

By implementing this legislation, states would hold resources necessary to further assist individuals and families out of foster care, and other welfare services, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill includes:

Supports for older youth who experienced foster care;

Prevents youth from aging out of foster care, which would put them at risk of homelessness during the pandemic;

Expands access to services that prevent child abuse and neglect;

Increases supports for the Court Improvement Program;

Provides emergency flexibilities for home visiting programs to continue safely serving at-risk pregnant and parenting families;

Expands access to programs to support grandparents raising grandchildren, and other kinship families.

To read the full text of this legislation, click HERE.

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