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CWLA Applauds Boxer (D-CA) Bill to Extend Federal Funds to Youth in Foster Care
For more information, contact
Joyce Johnson
Phone: 804/492-4519
Cell: 703/980-7641
E-mail: jjohnson@cwla.org
May 29, 2007, Washington, DC -- CWLA endorses new legislation by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) that would extend federal foster care funding to youth up to age 21. April Curtis, youth representative and member of the CWLA Board of Directors, remarking on Senator Boxer's actions, said "Extending Title IV-E to the 21st birthday is a step in the right direction. It's a good example of continued support and dedication for more young people in our child welfare system to become successful adults. This funding extension will provide young people with safe, permanent, and stable placements - all while increasing positive outcomes for their well being."
In 2004, 22,718 children aged-out or left foster care simply because they were too old. Many surveys indicate that many of these youth end up homeless or unemployed. In a national survey, 25% of foster youth reported they had been homeless at least one night 2.5-4.0 years after exiting foster care. One state reported that forty-four percent of former foster youth had difficulty accessing health and mental health services.
CWLA CEO Christine James-Brown stated "The Child Welfare League of America looks forward to working with Senator Boxer and other Senators so that all abused and neglected children and youth receive the most efficient and comprehensive services possible."
Since 1920, The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) has been the nation's pre-eminent membership-based organization dedicated to ensuring that disadvantaged and vulnerable children are protected from harm and have the tools and resources they need to grow into the healthy and happy adults we want them to become. CWLA is the trusted authority for professionals who work with children and the only national organization with 900 public and private member agencies working across all sectors of the children's services field.
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