Congressman Yakym's Foster Care Bill passes the House

Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Fostering the Future Act (H.R. 7432).

The bipartisan legislation included Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act (H.R. 7655), authored by Representatives Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) and Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07).

The bill strengthens coordination between the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) and Chafee programs to better support foster youth who are expecting or raising children of their own.

"We have a responsibility to support the most vulnerable individuals in our communities, and that starts with children especially foster youth” Rep. Yakym said. “Expanding access to parenting programs, education and training, legal services, and housing opportunities, the Fostering the Future Act makes meaningful reforms that will better serve foster youth transitioning to adulthood.”

The bill has also garnered support from over 160 stakeholders across the country. See the full list HERE.

Background:

The John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (Chafee program) provides states, territories, and tribes with funds to support youth that are transitioning out of the foster care system. Funds can be used to support housing, education, employment, and other vital services.

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program provides funding for evidenced-based home visiting programs that support at-risk families to achieve better health outcomes and economic self-sufficiency.

Rep. Yakym’s predecessor Jackie Walorski was a strong supporter of the MIECHV program and the 2022 MIECHV reauthorization was named in her honor.

70% of females in foster care become pregnant by age 21, compared to 34% of their peers not in foster care. Streamlining coordination between MIECHV and Chafee programs will better support these youth and help them access all the resources available to them.

The Fostering the Future Act includes six bipartisan bills aimed at better supporting older foster youth and codifies several priorities included in the Executive Order, “Fostering the Future for American Children and Families.”

• H.R. 7432, the “Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act” -- Improves access to housing for youth aging out of foster care, and former foster youth, by strengthening coordination between Chafee and the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) housing voucher program. Aligns age eligibility between both programs, updates the existing 30 percent cap on room or board to exclude housing supportive services, and requires joint federal guidance to clarify rules and coordination of child welfare and housing services at the local level.

• H.R. 7463, the “Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act” -- Increases the individual cap on Chafee Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) vouchers from $5,000 to $12,000 per student annually, while maintaining current funding levels for ETVs and permits states to establish a grace period for youth to demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completion of a program, after an assessment and consultation with the youth.    

• H.R. 7343, the “Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act” -- Expands flexibility in the Chafee EVT program to allow youth to access short-term workforce and vocational training and credentialing programs. Further expands ETVs for the costs of apprenticeships, GED, and remedial education, and provides one additional year of eligibility if used for remedial education.

• H.R. 7529, the “Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act” -- Improves access to legal services for youth and ensures states have processes in place to take into consideration legal issues impacting foster youth, such as housing, education, employment entry, and family conditions, as part of case planning in their transition to adulthood.

• H.R. 7655, the “Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act” -- Improves access to home visiting services offered through the MIECHV program for youth in foster care who are expecting or parenting. Permits states to use Chafee funds to provide specialized case management to expectant and parenting foster youth.

• H.R. 7995, the “Chafee Opportunities for New Networks and Existing Connection Trust (CONNECT) Act” -- Updates Chafee purposes to reflect the importance of foster youth establishing meaningful connections with adults and other lifelong support networks. Adds a new purpose to clarify that Chafee funds may be used to help foster youth engage in their own permanency process and planning for independence.

Full bill text is available HERE.