US: Grassley, Cornyn, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Missing Foster Youth (Press release)
Office of Chuck Grassley, U.S. Senator for Iowa – March 31, 2023
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) this week joined Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) in introducing the Find and Protect Foster Youth Act. The bill would create a feedback loop between states and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration of Children and Families (ACF) to provide more adequate care and information-sharing for missing and runaway foster youth. States are currently required by law to implement plans to prevent, mitigate and find cases of missing foster youth, yet tens of thousands of foster children have gone missing in the last two decades. Increasing communication between states and the ACF would allow them to use real-life experiences to inform the assistance they provide to child protective service agencies. The legislation would require ACF to report to Congress on progress being made to find missing foster youth and prevent runaways. In addition, it would establish screenings for children who return to foster care after running away or were otherwise missing to determine if the children were victims of sex trafficking during their absence. This legislation is endorsed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-cornyn-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-help-missing-foster-youth