IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 509 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to support the rights 

of youth in the foster care system. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 14, 2023 

Mr. CLEAVER (for himself, Mr. BACON, Ms. BROWN, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. 

CARTER of Louisiana, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Ms. CLARKE of 

New York, Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. EVANS, Ms. 

LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mrs. FOUSHEE, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Mr. 

GRIJALVA, Mrs. HOUCHIN, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, 

Mr. KHANNA, Ms. LEE of California, Mrs. MCCLELLAN, Ms. MOORE of 

Wisconsin, Mr. MOSKOWITZ, Mr. MULLIN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. 

PORTER, Ms. SA ́NCHEZ, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. SEWELL, and Mr. HILL) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to 

support the rights of youth in the foster care system. 

Whereas a 2016 report from the American Bar Association 

found that only 50 percent of foster children graduate 

from high school; 

Whereas a report from the First Star Institute gave 11 

States ‘‘D’’ or ‘‘F’’ grades on their legal rights for foster 

youth; 


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•HRES 509 IH 

Whereas a Casey Family Programs study of foster children 

in Oregon and Washington revealed that one-third of foster youth reported abuse by their foster parent or another household adult; 

Whereas a study from the Department of Health and Human 

Services found that Black, brown, and indigenous children are overrepresented in the foster system and less 

likely to be adopted than other children, and nearly 90 

percent of foster youth have experienced trauma; 

Whereas experts agree that social workers offer critical support to both foster youth and families, ensuring a healthy 

living environment; 

Whereas a Johns Hopkins University study found that foster 

children in group homes are 28 times more likely to be 

sexually abused than other children; 

Whereas a National Institutes of Health study found that extensive informed consent requirements for low-risk activities may leave foster children at a higher risk for poor 

physical and mental health outcomes; 

Whereas a 2018 analysis from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) found that only 

54 percent of insured foster youth received mental health 

treatment after experiencing a depressive episode; and 

Whereas a 2015 Journal of Public Child Welfare report 

found that sibling separation exacerbates trauma and 

slows adjustment to their new home: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that foster youth should have the— 


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3 

•HRES 509 IH 

1 (1) right to receive an education and remain in 

2 their original school, if desired; 

3 (2) right to participate in extracurricular, cul4 tural, and social activities appropriate to the youth’s 

5 age and developmental needs; 

6 (3) right to receive needed health services, in7 cluding medical, dental, vision, and mental health 

8 services; 

9 (4) right to freedom from abuse, neglect, or 

10 corporal punishment; 

11 (5) right to be represented by, and speak to, a 

12 guardian or attorney ad litem; 

13 (6) right to adequate and healthy food, ade14 quate clothing, and a safe and comfortable living en15 vironment; 

16 (7) right to freedom from discrimination based 

17 on race, gender, religion, or disability; 

18 (8) right to have continued contact with sib19 lings, if desired; 

20 (9) right to regular or at least reasonable con21 tact with their assigned caseworker or an employee 

22 of the agency responsible for their child welfare serv23 ices; and 

24 (10) right to be informed of their rights. 

Æ 


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