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Act now to improve foster care and adoption
On Wednesday, September 17, the House of Representatives passed the Fostering Connections to Success and Improving Adoptions Act by unanimous consent. The bill is a compromise of the Fostering Connections to Success Act passed by the House on June 24 and the Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act passed by the Senate Finance Committee on September 10.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later this week or early next week. Advocates are asked to contact their Senators now to encourage passage of this legislation before the end of September when the Adoption Incentives Program is set to expire. To read the entire bill, click here.
This bill would make a large impact on Iowa children in the foster care system, Lutheran Services in Iowa and Iowa KidsNet, a statewide collabortation of six Iowa agencies, including LSI, dedicated to the safety and permanency of children and families through foster care and adoption.
ACTION NEEDED NOW:
Contact your Senators now and ask them to support passage of the Fostering Connections to Success and Improving Adoptions Act before the end of September. Personalize and send the email below or call your U.S. Senator. You can find their contact information by using our searchable database.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Please Support Landmark Child Welfare Legislation
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
As you consider how to vote on bill H.R. 6893, Fostering Connections to Success and Improving Adoptions Act, please remember the broad and postive impact it will have on the 513,000 children across the United States, including 4,000 in Iowa alone, currently in foster care.
Many of these children come from homes where abuse and neglect were a daily part of their lives. The possiblity of a loving, permanent home would give hope to these children who have been through so much in their young lives. As a supporter of Lutheran Services in Iowa and Iowa KidsNet, I want to make sure you understand the importance of this landmark child welfare legislation.
The points below are just some of the important ways that this bill would help children and agencies like LSI and Iowa KidsNet:
-Expand child welfare training funding to non-profit organizations;
-Extend the adoption incentives program for five years;
-Extend the state option for children up to age 21 to receive foster care services; and
-Grant Native American tribes access to Title IV-E funds.
Again, I encourage you to vote yes for this important legislation for children. You can make a difference in their lives and help them live bright futures full of promise.
Sincerely,
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