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In The News
Jul 9, 2014
| Columbia Daily Tribune
Foster care forum highlights barriers to effective programs
A bureaucratic debate over sentence construction is denying health care to young adults who were once in foster care, a round table on child welfare learned Monday.
Jun 9, 2014
| The Southern
Washington trip gives chance to address foster care concerns
A former foster child in Illinois now is fighting for changes in the foster care system. Yemisi Pleasant-Sloan, 25, formerly of Chicago, is now a Carbondale resident and SIU graduate. She spent her childhood as a foster child in Chicago. On May 21, she went to Washington D.C. to participate in the third annual Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day.
Jun 8, 2014
| Fond du Luc Reporter
Petri hosts Fond du Lac student on 'Shadow Day'
U.S. Representative Tom Petri recently hosted Brittany Hernandez of Fond du Lac on the third annual “Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day.” Hernanez met with the Fond du Lac Republican in his Washington office where she shared her experience in the Wisconsin foster system as well as her goal of attending Boston University for graduate school.
May 29, 2014
| Chronicle of Social Change
Dr. Phil: “Foster Care is a Social Circumstance, Not a Mental Illness”
The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources heard testimony yesterday on the disproportionate use of psychotropic medications on foster youths, and the president’s $750 million proposal to address the issue. The hearing yesterday was spurred along by the presence of a celebrity witness, talk show host “Dr. Phil” McGraw.
May 29, 2014
| The Saginaw News
College student from Saginaw joins nearly 70 other foster youths to advocate on Capitol Hill
A young woman from Saginaw who spent three years in Michigan's foster care program spent her day Thursday, May 29, on Capitol Hill with her local congressman, advocating for the needs of foster youth in the nation. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, hosted Western Michigan University student Katelynn Morris Thursday as part of the U.S. Congress "Foster Youth Shadow Day."
May 22, 2014
| WATE
Former Knoxville foster child traveling to DC to meet with lawmakers
A local teenager is traveling to the nation's capital to meet with lawmakers about how to improve the foster care system. Timothy Dennis spent six years in foster care. He is now part of the local Youth 4 Youth leadership board.
Feb 14, 2014
| Q13 Fox
Children in foster care more vulnerable to sex traffickers
Nearly 60% of juveniles arrested for prostitution in Los Angeles in 2010 were in the foster care system. That’s why a local lawmaker is trying to strengthen foster care programs, in an effort to prevent child sex trafficking.
Feb 14, 2014
| MyNorthwest
Reichert bill aims to help foster kids, stop sex trafficking
It's a good bet that most of the children caught up in prostitution and sex trafficking are part of the foster care system. A new bill would force states to identify victims and make better lives for foster kids.
May 31, 2013
| The Chronicle of Social Change
Foster Care Finance Reform Imminent?
On May 28th, Casey Family Programs welcomed a powerful group of child welfare leaders to its Seattle headquarters during a meeting billed as part of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth’s National Listening Tour.
May 30, 2013
| Mockingbird Blog
Digital Stories: Congressional Foster Youth Caucus
On May 28th and 29th, former foster youth Mandy Urwiler attended the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Listening Tour here in Seattle along with other youth and staff from the Mockingbird Society.