By Sophie Brams | The Hill
First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday called on Congress to pass a set of bipartisan reforms aimed at modernizing a federal program for young people transitioning out of the foster care system.
The first lady joined House Ways and Means Committee members and two people who were in foster care on Capitol Hill for a roundtable discussion focused on advancing opportunities in housing, education and other support services for children who have aged out of the foster care system.
“New legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative,” she said in opening remarks.
“Beginning here in this room, we can once again change people’s lives. With the new legislation, we can ensure that the opportunity is more than helpful for individuals in the foster care community,” she continued. “It can be their birthright.”
Rose Law Group family law attorney Kelsey Fischer says in a comment to RLGR: “Aging out of foster care should never mean aging out of support. In practice, we see the consequences when transition services end too early such as housing instability, interrupted education, and increased legal system involvement. Modernizing the Chafee Foster Care Program to better align housing, education, and workforce services reflects the realities foster youth face every day and ensures existing resources are used effectively. Strengthening these programs isn’t about politics, it’s about giving young people a stable foundation as they enter adulthood.”
