Warnock, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Young Parents in Foster Care

The Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act provides necessary resources for healthy pregnancies, stable parenting, and successful transitions into adulthood

Senator Reverend Warnock: "Together, we are putting foster youth front and center by expanding access to the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program through Chafee and providing the resources they and their children need to build brighter, more secure futures"

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the bipartisan Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act, legislation that would help young parents in the foster care system access the resources they need for healthy pregnancies, stable parenting, and a successful transition into adulthood.

"Too many vulnerable youth in our foster care system are forced to contend with early parenthood while facing the complexities of the foster care system," said Senator Warnock. "That is why I am proud to partner with Senator Scott on this crucial bill. Together, we are putting foster youth front and center by expanding access to the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program through Chafee and providing the resources they and their children need to build brighter, more secure futures."

"Every child deserves the key to opportunity no matter his or her walk of life," said Senator Scott. "I am proud to introduce the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act, which ensures young parents from the foster care system can create stable homes for themselves and their children. By investing in these young parents and providing them with ample resources, we are strengthening families, investing in America's future, and ensuring the door to opportunity remains open for all."

The Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act would improve coordination between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV). The bill would require states to have process in place to provide eligible foster youth who are expecting or parenting information about services that can improve maternal health, child development, parenting skills, and long-term family stability.

Senator Warnock has long championed legislation to help protect mothers and improve outcomes for families. The senator previously introduced the Kira Johnson Act, a bill to provide funding to community-based organizations leading the charge to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly for Black women. In November 2023, Senator Warnock introduced legislation that would help keep kids out of foster care and promote healthy families by creating an alternative to incarceration for eligible parents and caregivers.

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