U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis Champions Policies to Support Foster Youth in Successful Parenting

Press Release

May 31, 2017, In recognition of May as National Foster Care Month and National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) introduced ground-breaking legislation to dedicate Federal funding and improve policies supporting foster youth in successful parenting.

Congressman Davis said, "Unfortunately, teen foster youth are twice as likely as their non-foster-youth peers to have a baby, with many of these young women having more than one pregnancy by age 19. Approximately half of 21-year-old male foster youth report getting a partner pregnant compared to only one-third of their non-foster-youth peers. It is shameful that Federal child welfare funding fails to do anything about it. This is why I worked closely with national experts to develop legislation to increase Federal investment in and improve governmental policies supporting these youth and their children."

Currently, Federal child welfare policy lacks dedicated funds or policies to help foster youth prevent unintended pregnancies or to promote the healthy development of expectant or parenting foster youth, noncustodial parents, or their children. Teen pregnancy is linked to long-term health, economic, social, and academic hardships for both parents and their children.

The legislation will strengthen the child welfare infrastructure to prevent unintended pregnancies among foster youth and to promote the well-being of expectant or parenting foster youth (including non-custodial parents) and their children. Given limited relevant research, it creates demonstration grants to help identify, develop, replicate, and evaluate activities to support these foster youth.

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