Yakym Introduces Bill to Streamline Support for Foster Youth

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –  Today, Congressman Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) and Ranking Member Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07) introduced the “Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act” (H.R. 7655) that aims to strengthen coordination between the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) and Chafee programs to better support expectant and parenting foster youth. 

“I believe we have an obligation to leave this world better than we found it and that starts with supporting and investing in the next generation especially the most vulnerable youth in our communities,” Rep. Yakym said. “The Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act strengthens coordination between the Chafee and MIECHV programs to better support foster youth with children of their own.”

“Illinois and Indiana are national leaders in helping expectant and parenting foster youth address the unique challenges they face as they transition to adulthood,” Rep. Davis said. “I proudly join with Rep. Yakym to ensure that these young parents have access to intensive case management, high-quality home visiting, and resource coordination so they and their children can thrive.”

“As someone who aged out of foster care, I did not have the best role models to teach me how to parent. I participated in the nurse practitioner program,” Jada Cuttriss, participant of this program said. “In this program, I learned more about the milestones my child will experience, gained reassurance as a parent, found resources for postpartum care, and learned that each child develops at a different pace and at different times, so do not compare your child to others.”

The bill has also garnered support from several stakeholders.

“Foster Success applauds Congressman Yakym and Ranking Member Davis for introducing the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act. By strengthening coordination between the MIECHV and Chafee programs, we can ensure that expectant and parenting foster youth receive the comprehensive support they need to build stable, nurturing homes for their children,” Dr. Maggie Stevens, President and CEO, Foster Success said. “These young parents face unique challenges, and this bill recognizes that connecting them to evidence-based home visiting services isn’t just good policy—it’s an investment in two generations. We strongly support this bi-partisan, common-sense approach to helping foster youth succeed as parents.”

“Parenting is hard under ideal circumstances, but expectant and parenting foster youth, are often left to navigate parenthood without access to the basic parenting knowledge and child development support.” Debie Coble, President and CEO, Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc. said. “This legislation guarantees that to young parents in foster care have knowledge of an incredible resource that will provide them with support and guidance through pregnancy and into the first part of the new child’s life. This combination changes the trajectory of this young family.”

“Changent applauds the introduction of the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act and appreciates Rep. Yakym’s and Ranking Member Davis’s bipartisan commitment to strengthening outcomes for expectant and parenting foster youth and their children,” Cam Scott, Director of Policy and Government Affairs at Changent said. “These youth face unique challenges as they work to build stable, healthy futures for themselves and their children. By improving coordination between the Chafee Foster Care Program and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV), this legislation proposes practical, evidence-based solutions that promote maternal and child health and strengthen family stability. Despite MIECHV’s proven benefits for maternal and child health, national data show that only a fraction of families eligible for home visiting services are currently being reached, underscoring the substantial unmet need and importance of strengthening referral connections for expectant and parenting foster youth to programs like Nurse-Family Partnership and Child First. With thoughtful implementation and continued attention to capacity, this legislation will improve maternal and child health outcomes and strengthen family stability.”

“Healthy Families America strongly supports this legislation. Young people leaving foster care are far more likely to become parents at an early age,” Kathleen Strader, Healthy Families America, National Director said. “Yet often lack the support networks their peers rely on. By connecting these families to evidence-based home visiting services and streamlining coordination between MIECHV and Chafee, this bill ensures some of our most vulnerable young parents don’t fall through the cracks.”

Bill Summary

• Requires states to have a process to provide expectant or parenting foster youth with information about visiting services under the MIECHV Program as a condition of receiving Chafee funds.

• Permits a state to use its Chafee funds to provide tailored case management services and resource coordination for expectant or parenting foster youth.

Full bill text is available HERE.

Background

• The John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (Chafee program) provides states, territories, and tribes with funds to support youth that are transitioning out of the foster care system. Funds can be used to support housing, education, employment, and other vital services.

• The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program provides funding for evidenced based home visiting programs that support at-risk families to achieve better health outcomes and economic self-sufficiency.

• Rep. Yakym’s predecessor Jackie Walorski was a strong supporter of the MIECHV program and the 2022 MIECHV reauthorization was named in her honor. 

• 70% of females in foster care become pregnant by age 21, compared to 34% of their peers not in foster care. Streamlining coordination between MIECHV and Chafee programs will better support these youth and help them access all the resources available to them.

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