In The News
Jan 28, 2013
| TakePart
Op-Ed: Foster Youth Are Part of Our Future; Let’s Help Make It a Great One
Issues: Foster Care
Despite the turmoil, each of these three foster youth have persevered and are excelling both personally and professionally. They are a testament to the perseverance of so many foster youth in America who, when given the tools to succeed, can overcome traumatic childhoods and go on to make significant contributions to society.
Jan 23, 2013
| Los Angeles Wave
Rep. Karen Bass to host a community resource fair Saturday
Issues: Housing
With stark figures that show that every 15 minutes in Los Angeles County a family loses their home, there could be a substantial turnout this weekend for a community event on home loans relief and tax assistance in the run up to the filing season.
Jan 23, 2013
| Chronicle of Social Change
Newsmakers: Foster Youth Attend Inauguration
Issues: Foster Care
Around 6 a.m. on Jan. 21, three former foster youth bundled up in their warmest clothes and headed to the nation’s capitol to witness the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama. Sixto Cancel, 20, Daniesha Tobey-Richards, 19, and Elbert Belcher, 21, were all invited by Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) to attend the historic ceremony in Washington D.C
Jan 20, 2013
| Associated Press
3 former foster youths to attend inauguration
Issues: Foster Care
Three former foster children will be in Washington on Monday to witness President Barack Obama's ceremonial inauguration for a second term. They were invited by California Congresswoman Karen Bass, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and an ardent advocate for the more than 400,000 kids in foster care. She said witnessing the historic occasion will inspire them to reach their own goals.
Jan 18, 2013
| La Opinion
Menos obstáculos a hijos de crianza
Issues: Foster Care
El presidente Barack Obama firmó el Acta Ininterrumpida de los Alumnos (USA) de la congresista demócrata de California Karen Bass y la senadora demócrata de Louisiana, Mary Landrieu que permite a las trabajadoras sociales de las agencias de asistencia pública de los niños tener acceso a los registros de los estudiantes.
Jan 17, 2013
| San Francisco Chronicle
Fostering new opportunities for kids
Issues: Foster Care
Kudos to the president and to both parties in Congress, who swiftly came together to create the Uninterrupted Scholars Act. Translated from Washington-speak, that means foster children will escape some of the red tape that has snarled their efforts to reach a brighter future.
Jan 10, 2013
| Our Weekly
Closing the achievement gap for foster youth
Issues: Education, Foster Care
Even under the best circumstances African American students often have challenges resulting in lower graduation rates and test scores than their White counterparts. When you factor in a child in the foster care system, in particular an African American child, the statistics become even worse.
Jan 9, 2013
| Los Angeles Wave
'Landmark' education bill boosts prospects for foster youth
Issues: Education, Foster Care
The Uninterrupted Scholars Act, which passed both houses of Congress earlier this month and now heads to the president’s desk for signature, allows child welfare agencies better access to the education records of children in their care.
Jan 9, 2013
| San Jose Mercury News
John Burton and Karen Bass: Foster children's education gets a boost from new law
Issues: Foster Care
The Uninterrupted Scholars Act is the first major piece of legislation passed through the efforts of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, founded and co-chaired by a co-author here, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass. After hearing the concerns of stakeholders across the country, she built a bipartisan alliance in the House and Senate to pass it.
Jan 4, 2013
| Associated Press
Bill to Help Foster Youths With School Record
Issues: Education, Foster Care
Federal lawmakers have passed a bill that will give social workers better access to school records in an effort to improve dismal education outcomes for foster children.
