Student supports Foster Care Children's rights

February 8^th, 2018. [for the sake of the assignment, pretend it is March 10th, 2017]

Avery Borne 

227-N Stratton Office Building Springfield, Il. 62706

Dear Avery Borne:

Hello, I am a junior at University of Illinois Springfield and I am currently studying policies in the Social Work program. I am writing you to inform you about the 2017 IL H 3542 bill. This is a bill concerning the Foster Care Bill of Rights, on the topic of Foster Care. I know that this is not one of your issues that you work with, but I would like to tell you about it, in hopes you will support this. This bill was passed out of the Human Services Committee on March 8th (of 2017), and as it is coming to the floor of the House of Representatives soon for a vote. I hope you pass this bill.  

Children that are placed in foster care deserve proper care from a loving and resourceful home. I believe our country has a responsibility to children to improve the placement and the condition of these children’s lives.  Children who have experienced many transitions between families may be facing worse developmental outcomes than children raised in stable two-parent families. Moving from house to house or family to family is damaging to all children. 

I know that what I am going to tell you is not an anecdote about foster care, but my story illustrates a situation that acts upon the children involved in the same way. My nieces, age five and nine, have been moving back and forth between parents as part of the marital agreement set by the state. My nieces go from dad’s house one week to mom’s house the next week. They have been doing this for about two years now. I know that both houses have different rules. When going from one to the other the transition is very hard. The first couple days when they first go back they have to be constantly reminding themselves how they are required to act. Going back and forth or moving from house to house is hard on children, as it sets back their development. Focusing more on whose house they are at as to how they must act rather than how to be themselves. 

Again this is an issue regarding this amendment to be added to the Foster Children's Bill of Rights Act Section 5:

“to be placed in the least restrictive and most family-like setting available and in close proximity to his or her parent’s home consistent with his or her health, safety, best interests, and special needs.”

By reading this letter I have hopes that you will read more about this and when it comes to the House, you will vote yes on the issue and pass the 2017 IL H 3542 Bill, as well. 

Thank you for taking your time to read this letter. If you could reply back with your position on the issue and how you may address the issue it would be much appreciated.

Sincerely, 

[SWK-355 Student]