Young People Spoke Up and Congress Listened
This month, leaders in the U.S. House introduced six bipartisan bills to modernize the Chafee program. Chafee is the main lifeline for help with housing, school, and preparation for life after foster care.
These new bills aim to deliver real changes young people have been asking for:
- Housing: Easier access to a stable place to live.
- Jobs and School: More money and flexible options for training and college.
- Legal Help: Support for the legal hurdles that often come up during transition.
- Family and Parenting: Support for young parents and help building lasting relationships with peers and trusted adults.
- Future Goals: Education support that reflects real life and job training beyond four-year degrees.
At FosterClub, we know these changes work because they came directly from the lived experience of our members.
How we got here
FosterClub believes those most affected by a policy should be the ones to shape it. These new bills are the result of years of advocacy by young people with lived experience (LEx).
It started during the pandemic when the #UpChafee campaign won $400 million in emergency aid. That victory proved that when young people speak up, real change can happen. Since then, we’ve kept the pressure on:
- Leaders like Jordan Otero and Ramond Nelson went to Capitol Hill to tell Congress the truth about aging out of care.
- Most recently, LEx Leader Jocelyn Fetting joined a roundtable with the full Ways & Means Committee and First Lady Melania Trump. She reminded Congress that young people need to be involved in policymaking:
"If we truly believe every young person deserves a fair chance, then Congress must pass these reforms, continue to utilize our voices in policy changes and make sure all foster youth have support."
The lawmakers who listened
Progress happens when leaders work across party lines. We are grateful to these Representatives for showing up and putting the voices of foster youth into action:
Representatives Darin LaHood, Danny Davis, Gwen Moore, Max Miller, Dwight Evans, Judy Chu, Nathaniel Moran, Rudy Yakym, and Mike Carey.
Take Action
Introduction is a major milestone, but the work isn't over. These bills must pass and be signed into law; even then, passing a law is only the first step. What matters most is that young people actually feel the difference. FosterClub will keep pushing until that happens, and we know Chafee reform is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle facing foster care.
Were you in foster care? Your voice can help shape what comes next. FosterClub is always listening.
Stay connected: Sign up for FosterClub’s newsletter to follow these bills and take action.