Congresswoman Bass tells her goals for foster care system
Congresswoman Karen Bass is deeply concerned about foster care. As a result, she founded the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, she told Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce members at a meeting in August at Park La Brea.
Bass, who represents the 33rd district of California, said she hoped to improve the lives of children receiving foster care through the caucus.
Bass’s group is bipartisan, allowing people of both parties to come together and work at improving the foster care system. “That’s why I chose Congresswoman Michele Bachmann as a co-chair,” said Bass. “We might not agree about other things, but we agree about foster care.”
The new foster youth caucus is working to protect and promote the welfare of all children in foster care and those who have “aged out” of the system.
Bass said she strongly opposes the way the foster care system “emancipates,” or abruptly ceases supporting youth once they’ve reached a certain age “They kick [foster children] to the curb when they’re 18 and call that emancipation,” Bass said at the meeting.
She ultimately hopes to give children in foster care tools to increase the stability of their lives after they’ve officially aged out of the system. “Foster children lack the financial, social, and emotional safety nets they need in order to lead a successful life after they’ve turned 18,” said the congresswoman.
Bass also serves on the Budget Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Congressional Black Caucus.
By Suhauna Hussain, Student Intern
Category: People