Jay Rockefeller: “I am very proud to join my friend and colleague, Senator DeWine, as an original cosponsor of two important bills, S.…”

“I am very proud to join my friend and colleague, Senator DeWine, as an original cosponsor of two important bills, S. 3165 and S. 3166, to offer loan forgiveness to social workers and attorneys willing to work in the child welfare field. Senator DeWine has been an inspiring leader on child welfare issues for many years, and I am delighted to work closely with him to continue to seek ways to improve the administrative agencies and legal courts that serve such vulnerable children. The bills are designed to encourage students graduating with social work degrees and law degrees to spend several years working in the child welfare system. Eligible students would receive loan forgiveness for working in child welfare agencies and courts for abused and neglected children. The amount of loan forgiveness would increase over time to reward experience, and to retain social workers and attorneys in the system. Every day, approximately 500,000 children are in the foster care system. Services to such children need to be improved so that every child's health and safety is paramount, and every child secures a permanent home.”