Make a Change to Legislation
Contacting your State or Congressional Representative can feel overwhelming or scary. You may feel like your opinion doesn’t matter or that your voice won’t be heard. But this is exactly why YOUR voice is so important!Decision makers need to hear the stories that affect the voters in their districts. Your stories help influence the way they vote on current legislation that will ultimately affect the way in which children in foster and kinship care will receive services.
There are many bills introduced into Congress and State Legislatures each year. We have outlined a current resolution relevant to the foster, kinship and adoptive community, how it would affect you and the children in your care, and how to get in touch with your representatives so they can hear your voice.
We will update this page with action alerts regularly, so keep checking in to see how you can Get Involved!
Recent Foster Care Victories!
What it means to you and the children in your care:
This bill was drafted by the Department of Children and Families Youth Council, which consists of 24 young New Jersey residents with lived experience in child welfare. This bill provides the following rights for siblings in care:
See what rights this bill provides for siblings in care (Click/Tap)
- To be placed with siblings when possible and in the best interests of all siblings placed together, including placement together in congregate care settings when possible;
- To be placed in the closest proximity possible to other siblings who are not in out-of-home placement or if placement together is not possible, when it is in the best interests of the child;
- To be allowed to participate in the permanency planning decisions of their siblings, as age and developmentally appropriate, and to have their recommendations and wishes in this regard documented in the case record, in the words written or otherwise expressed by the sibling when possible;
- To know or be made aware of expectations for continued contact with their siblings after an adoption or transfer of permanent physical and legal custody to a relative;
- To be promptly informed about changes in sibling placements or circumstances; to be permitted in-person contact with siblings, if in the best interest of both siblings;
- To be provided necessary transportation as reasonable, and to have access to a phone or computer that allows for virtual visits in between or when face-to-face visits are not feasible; to be actively involved in their siblings’ lives, including planning and attending celebrations, birthdays, holidays, graduations, and other meaningful milestones, to the greatest extent possible;
- To not have sibling visits, including phone calls and virtual visits, be denied as a result of behavioral consequences when residing in a resource family home or congregate care setting; and to be provided updated contact information for all siblings, at least annually, including a current telephone number, address, and email address, unless not in the best interests of one or more siblings.
What it means to you and the
children in your care:
Update: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld ICWA, affirming tribal sovereignty and constitutionality on June 15, 2023
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a 43-year-old federal law that was established to protect the well-being and best interests of Native American children and families. ICWA protects family integrity and stability by keeping Native American children connected to their community and culture. This federal law also reaffirms the inherent rights of tribal nations to be involved in child welfare matters involving citizens of their tribe.
For decades, ICWA has been recognized by child welfare experts and has aided thousands of Native American families. In recent years, anti-tribal interests have launched a series of legal challenges against ICWA, with the goal of broadly undermining tribal sovereignty. The most prominent case and challenge to ICWA is Haaland v. Brackeen (formerly Brackeen v. Zinke and Brackeen v. Bernhardt.
This lawsuit brought by Texas and other individual plaintiffs alleges that ICWA is unconstitutional. This case is set to be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in the fall of 2022 as it has already been through all lower courts.
ICWA serves the best interest of Native American children and families. This law continues to keep children connected to their heritage and families, which in turn strengthens their cultural identity and aids in their ability to thrive for the future. ICWA is imperative to our tribal nations and embrella stands to protect and defend ICWA for our Native children and families.
The Current Issues at Hand
& How to Take Action
What it means to you and the children in your care:
This bill would stop federally funding child welfare service providers from discriminating against children, young people, and families because of their religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status. This bill also mandates culturally competent care for young people and families of color, families who are disabled, and religious minorities.
The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act ensures that your tax dollars will not turn away qualified families from caring for children and young people in need, but it will also prohibit the mistreatment of children and young people due to their identity to provide the best possible chance at finding a safe, stable and nurturing home.
How to Get Involved:
Your Voice Matters!
H.R. 3488: John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act was introduced into Congress on March 25, 2021. You can act by asking NJ Senator Cory Booker and/or Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez to vote in favor of this amendment. You can also take it a step further by finding and contacting your districts House of Representative
Visit https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr3488 to learn more and see how you can connect with your legislators.
What it means to you and the children in your care:
This bill is an amendment to the Social Security Act to motivate the development of specialized foster care programs designed for large sibling groups, sibling groups with a large age range, and siblings with complex needs. Under current federal law, states must make a “reasonable effort” to ensure siblings remain together while in care; however, siblings across the nation are still separated at alarming rates. Some reports indicate as many as 75% of children in care are not with one or more of their siblings.
How to Get Involved:
Your Voice Matters!
H.R. 4378: Protecting Sibling Relationships in Foster Care Act was introduced into Congress on February 9, 2022. You can act by asking NJ Senator Cory Booker and/or Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez to vote in favor of this amendment. You can also take it a step further by finding and contacting your districts House of Representative.
Visit https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr4378 to learn more and see how you can connect with your legislators.
What it means to you and the children in your care:
This bill is an amendment to the Social Security Act to ensure children and young people in care that reside in a qualified residential treatment program are eligible for Medicaid. Currently, qualified residential treatment programs may not receive the Medicaid financing due to an exclusion to the Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) law that hinders Medicaid payments to these facilities with more than 16 beds. Such facilities that directly and primarily provide care for children and young people with mental health conditions.
How to Get Involved:
Your Voice Matters!
H.R. 5414: Ensuring Medicaid Continuing for Children in Foster Care Act of 2021 was introduced into Congress on September 29, 2021. You can act by asking NJ Senator Cory Booker and/or Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez to vote in favor of this amendment. You can also take it a step further by finding and contacting your districts House of Representative
Visit https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr5414 to learn more and see how you can connect with your legislators.
What it means to you and the children in your care:
This bill is an amendment to the Social Security Act to provide strengthened support for children and young people mental health services through Medicaid by improving Medicaid payment to patients, expanding treatment access, and ensuring timely access to care. In addition, this bill focuses on provider capacity for children experiencing a mental health crisis, including barriers that impact the ability of hospitals and providers to meet children’s behavioral needs. Strengthen Kids’ Mental Health Now Act also focuses on financial investments to enhance the delivery of community-based mental and behavioral health services. With the recent tragic events that have transpired in our nation, mental health and the safety of our children should be at the forefront of all aspects and levels of our community. We must work together to end violence and further trauma to our children and community by strengthening our mental health services.
How to Get Involved:
Your Voice Matters!
H.R. 7236: Strengthen Kids’ Mental Health Now Act of 2022 was introduced into Congress on March 28, 2022. You can act by asking NJ Senator Cory Booker and/or Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez to vote in favor of this amendment. You can also take it a step further by finding and contacting your districts House of Representative
Visit https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr7236 to learn more and see how you can connect with your legislators.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health is a National Emergency – Key Facts from Children’s Hospital Association
Read more: Children’s Hospital Association
- 1 in 5 children and adolescents experience a mental health condition each year.
- 50% of mental illness begins by age 14.
- Emergency department visits for children’s mental health more than doubled between 2016 and 2020.
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people ages 10-24.
What it means to you and the children in your care:
This bill would nationally extend the age of which young people are able and eligible to remain in foster care until the age of 21. This would allow states to provide financial assistance as it ensures states receive federal IV-E reimbursements. This bill also provides young people the right to re-enter care and obtain services if they voluntarily left care at age 18. If passed, this bill ensure that all young people have the right to choose their care decisions.
How to Get Involved:
Your Voice Matters!
H.R. 8177: Access to Foster Care to 21 Act was introduced into Congress on June 22, 2022. You can act by asking NJ Senator Cory Booker and/or Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez to vote in favor of this amendment. You can also take it a step further by finding and contacting your districts House of Representative
Visit https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8177/all-info to learn more and see how you can connect with your legislators
What it means to you and the children in your care:
This bill mandates the Department of Health and Human Service to provide guidance on opportunities for states to fund treatment services through Medicaid, payments for foster care, and other Department of Health and Human Service programs. This bill will enhance access to home-based health and mental health services directly affecting children and young people in care who live with medical and behavioral health needs.
How to Get Involved:
Your Voice Matters!
S. 3761: Treatment Family Care Services Act was introduced into Congress on March 3, 2022. You can act by asking NJ Senator Cory Booker and/or Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez to vote in favor of this amendment. You can also take it a step further by finding and contacting your districts House of Representative
Visit https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/s3761/details to learn more and see how you can connect with your legislators.
