The lives of foster children are often filled with unbearable trauma. Many have endured abuse or neglect, and been removed from their families. These children are our most vulnerable; they have no family to care for them. And, in these times, more than ever, they need support, stability and love.
Legislators here in Washington recognize this, and over the last few years, they’ve worked to make big strides to improve the lives of foster children. They’ve passed a laws to:
- Ensure all foster children are given attorneys, to make sure someone is looking out for their best interest – Rep. Roger Goodman.
- Extend foster care so children aren’t kicked out on the streets at 18; giving them a hand up into adulthood – Rep. Mary Helen Roberts.
- Guaranteeing foster children can visit their siblings, trying to help keep their families as close as possible – Rep. Mary Helen Roberts.
- Providing educational coaches to help improve their chances of success in school –Rep. Reuven Carlyle.
However, a new story out from King 5 News shows a large, more basic problem at hand for
our state’s foster children – a lack of foster homes. In Everett alone, there are only 46 approved foster homes, but 300 children who need a safe, stable place to live. With a lack of foster homes in a child’s area, social workers have no choice but to send them out of their community, to a home elsewhere – adding to the trauma.
We all need to take responsibility for our state’s foster children. We can all raise awareness. And our legislators here in Washington will work to alleviate the foster home crisis. Having passed many other important reforms over the last several years, they have the knowledge and the tools to tackle this crisis too. Together, we can ensure that foster children have the opportunity to lead happy, healthy, productive lives.