Keep Foster Children Off the Street

One in five foster children grow up to be homeless adults. Many of these children are forced to leave their homes due to physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, but the state child welfare systems responsible for their well-being lack the tools needed to meet their complex needs.

The Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act attempts to break the vicious cycle that disconnects these children from the help they need. The act supports these young people by: strengthening federal child welfare systems, extending their access to support services, and amending the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to improve access to benefits.

Every child deserves a chance to succeed no matter where they grow up or who raises them. Urge your senators to support S.2560, the Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act.

Dear Senator [Last Name]:

Right now, one-fifth of foster children grow up to be homeless adults.

Many of these children are compelled to leave home due to severe family conflict, parental mental illness, or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Also, many of the young people who enter foster care age out at 18-years old with little or no support for their transition to the adult world. For youth struggling to responsibly care for children of their own, the challenges are even greater.

Clearly, the state child welfare systems responsible for the safety and protection of these young people often lack the tools to meet their complex needs, which is why I urge your support for the S.2560, the Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act.

The Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act gives more support to foster families, foster children, and young adults transitioning from the foster care system into adulthood by:

* providing income security and needed support services to ensure permanency for unaccompanied youth and help ease them into the workforce;

* strengthening the federal child welfare system to allow homeless youth to more easily access services;

* altering the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to add homeless youth as a target group for eligibility in order to get disconnected youth reconnected and off the streets; and

* amending the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to improve access to benefits for minors with children.

By providing early support to youth in danger of becoming homeless or those who are already on the street, we can help get them back on track and avoid chronic homelessness and the prospect of costly intervention at a later date.

[Your Comment]

Every child deserves a chance to succeed no matter where they grow up or who raises them. Please support S. 2560, the Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
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