Austin News

U.S. Senators John Cornyn, Debbie Stabenow, Chuck Grassley, and Shelley Moore Capito have successfully passed the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act in the Senate. This bill aims to improve the care and information-sharing for missing and runaway foster youth by creating a feedback loop between states and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration of Children and Families.

Sen. Cornyn emphasized the vulnerability of foster youth and the importance of ensuring their safety, stating, "Foster youth are some of the most at-risk children for trafficking, substance abuse, and other forms of exploitation. No child should fall through the cracks of the Texas foster care system, and our bill will improve reporting and standard practices for state social service agencies to ensure vulnerable children remain in a safe home."

Sen. Stabenow expressed her concern about the number of foster youth who go missing while in foster care, calling it unacceptable. She highlighted the bipartisan nature of the legislation, saying, "Making sure our children have a safe place to call home isn't a partisan issue. I am pleased to partner with Senators Cornyn and Grassley on this bipartisan legislation."

Sen. Grassley emphasized the need to keep foster children safe and address the cracks and roadblocks in the current system that leave them susceptible to exploitation. He stated, "These children are at greater risk of going missing and being trafficked. For this to happen to even one child is unacceptable. I'm encouraged by the Senate's support for this bill, which would help states and federal agencies to better coordinate on their work to protect kids in foster care."

Sen. Capito highlighted the importance of protecting the youth in foster care in West Virginia, stating, "This legislation will strengthen the coordination of information sharing between the state and federal level, and improve our ability to quickly locate missing and runaway foster youth. We must do all we can to protect our most vulnerable children and keep them safe."

The Find and Protect Foster Youth Act addresses the issue of missing foster youth by increasing communication between states and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). By sharing real-life experiences, states and ACF can better inform the assistance they provide to child protective service agencies. The bill also requires ACF to report progress to Congress on finding missing foster youth and preventing runaways. Furthermore, it establishes screenings for children who return to foster care after running away to determine if they were victims of sex trafficking during their absence.

This legislation has received endorsements from various organizations, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Divinity Family Services, and Child Welfare League of America.

Sen. Cornyn, a member of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, has been actively involved in addressing issues impacting foster youth. Sen. Grassley, who co-founded the Caucus, currently serves as its co-chair alongside Sen. Stabenow.

The passage of the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act in the Senate is a significant step towards improving the care and safety of foster youth. By creating better communication and coordination between states and federal agencies, this legislation aims to ensure that no foster child falls through the cracks and that their well-being is prioritized.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-colleagues-bill-to-help-find-missing-foster-youth-passes-senate/