Higher education
Independent living
Transition (aging out)

#EmergencyRelief for #FosterYouth in Updated HEROES Act

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The big news:

Last night Democrats in the House of Representatives introduced the Updated HEROES Act, a comprehensive relief bill, which among many other things, includes critical emergency assistance to young people in and from foster care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

For the past five months, young people with lived experience in foster care have been advocating through the #UpChafee campaign for COVID relief, however, to date, no assistance has been directed to this population.  In August, House Ways and Means Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny Davis (IL-D) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Walorski (IN-R) introduced a bill that would help young adults who have aged out of foster care without families they can turn to during this crisis. The bipartisan Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act (H.R. 7947) provides:

  • $400 million for Chafee which will help youth with education, employment, financial management, housing, emotional support and assured connections to caring adults

  • Expands Chafee eligibility through age 26

  • Waives education/work requirements

  • Removes 30% cap on room and board 

  • Increases ETV from $5,000 to $12,000 per individual per year

  • Places a moratorium on aging out (and allows for re-entry into care)

  • Allows a total of $4,000/year to cover transportation and driving costs for young people. 

 

All of its provisions have been included in the Updated HEROES Act. You can view the full details in the attached document.

 

Bipartisan Leadership Offers Ray of Hope for Young People in Crisis

FosterClub continues to hear from young adults formerly in foster care about their urgent needs during the pandemic. Many have lost jobs, housing, educational opportunities and connections to support networks, as our polls have revealed. Many young adults have joined our #UpChafee campaign as advocates. They have shared their stories via op-eds, blogs, letters and calls to their Congressional representatives, petitions and through briefings on the Hill.  HR 7947 was introduced in response, and we were grateful to the Leaders in Congress who have come together, despite other political differences, through this bill to say that these young adults need urgent help. We are truly excited to see potential aid for young adults from foster care included in the Updated HEROES Act. 

 

FosterClub has been working with our partners at the local, state, and national levels, to define additional pressing needs in child welfare that would help stabilize families during COVID. The Updated HEROES Act includes other important provisions that will help families stay together and ensure children in foster care find stability during this crisis. 

 

Our hope is Congress will include these provisions in the final agreement for COVID aid bill.  

 

How you can help: