Demand Food Security for all Foster and Homeless Youth!

Food Insecurity is when one lack the resources necessary to obtain enough food for an active healthy life (Lee & Greif, 2008). Homeless persons are vulnerable to hunger, and less likely to be able to afford food (Lee &Greif, 2008). “Foster children are at risk for growth and nutritional deficiencies due to their nutritional environment prior to placement in foster care, which may be inadequate due to food insecurity and/or a poor diet” (Tooley, Makhoul, & Fisher, 2016). According to Tooley, Makhoul, and Fisher (2016) Foster children are at greater risk for negative health outcomes and developmental issues. The Foster and Homeless Youth Act of 2017 ensures that foster and homeless youth that are enrolled at least half time in an institution of higher education won’t have to face the physical and mental burdens of hunger. The Foster and Homeless Youth Act of 2017 exempts them from work requirements and other eligibility criteria. This petition demands food security for all Foster and homeless youth not only youth enrolled in an institution of higher education. This proposed policy change supports the NASW Social Work Code of Ethics Value Social justice. NASW (2017) value Social Justice states “Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers' social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment,discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all people.” This policy change supports the social work value Social Justice because it fights for the equality of opportunity for all Foster and homeless youth and fight for social change for oppressed and vulnerable individuals. By signing this bill you help support Change for foster and homeless you who do not have access to SNAP benefits offered in the policy.