Tell Congress It's Time to Open More Homes to Foster Children

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Today Representative Pete Stark (CA-D) introduced the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 1681), a child welfare bill that considers the best interests of children in the foster care system and opens up more permanent homes to foster youth. The bill mandates states to eliminate laws, policies, practices and procedures that exclude potential adoptive and foster parents because of their marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the foster youth involved. Now, as the House begins reviewing the bill, we need you to take action. Urge your federal lawmakers to co-sponsor and pass the Every Child Deserves a Family Act. With more than 120,000 foster children across the US waiting to be adopted, we have an obligation to open up every available qualified home. If we fail to make this happen, we will again witness nearly 25,000 young people “age out” of the system this year alone, never finding permanent homes to call their own. Those foster youth who fail to secure permanency are at a much higher risk to experience poverty, homelessness, incarceration and early parenthood.  President Obama agrees, “We all have a role to play in ensuring that foster children have the resources and encouragement they need to realize their hopes and dreams.” Please take action today to help open up every available home to foster youth seeking the love and support of a permanent family.  Thank you for moving equality forward!

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