Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus, led the reintroduction of the Furthering Opioid Services, Training, and Education Resources (FOSTER) Act with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). This bipartisan legislation will provide training and resources for foster and kinship caregivers to support children and parents affected by the opioid crisis.
“Far too often, children are the silent victims of the opioid crisis. Opioid use among parents can push at-risk children into an overloaded foster care system without sufficient resources. By introducing the FOSTER Act, we are calling on Congress to support foster children and caregivers affected by the opioid crisis,” said Rep. Strickland.
“Too many children are being drawn into foster and kinship care as a result of the opioid crisis, and the caregivers who step forward for them deserve the tools and training to meet this profound responsibility. Our bipartisan FOSTER Act provides that support through a whole-family approach that strengthens care, stability, and hope for children affected by parental substance use. As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, I am proud to work alongside Representative Strickland to advance this bipartisan legislation that will ensure at-risk children get the stability and care they deserve,” said Fitzpatrick.
BACKGROUND:
The FOSTER Act, would amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide grants to states and localities providing child protective services to train staff and caregivers about the impact of opioid addiction on children under their care. The grants could be used for:
- Foster care workforce recruitment and training on the effects of parental opioid use on children
- Foster and adoptive parent education on the impact of opioids
- Addiction treatment services for parents
The opioid epidemic has affected countless children and families across the United States, including children in foster care and the caregivers that support them. Parental drug abuse was a concern in 40% of out-of-home foster care placement cases. Congress must provide dedicated resources to support children in foster care affected by the opioid crisis and to support parents with substance use disorders working to maintain custody of their children.
Read the full bill text here.
U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.
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