On the recordMay 8, 2014
As we continue to celebrate National Foster Care Month, I would like to recognize the dedicated foster families, social workers, and service providers for their work to support the nearly 400,000 youth who are part of our country's foster care system. Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Foster Care Review, and CHARLEE of Dade County are just a few of the many organizations that work each and every day in our south Florida community to find a stable home with a devoted and loving family for our youth. While May has been designated as National Foster Care Month, the work to ensure that every child has a safe and permanent family does not stop when the calendar turns. In fact, before the end of this year, Mr. Speaker, at least 23,000 of these vulnerable members of our society will age out of the foster care system. Research has shown that these young individuals are at a heightened risk of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, and early parenthood. I encourage my congressional colleagues and every person across our Nation to work together so that we can change these tragic facts and figures for the betterment of our youth and the improvement of our society. ____________________
