Governor signs Pettigrew law on foster kids

Monday, May 14, 2007

 

OLYMPIA – Why are so many children of color in the foster-care system? It’s not based on poverty -- researchers say even if you remove wealth and poverty, many more children of color are in foster care.

 

A new law by Rep. Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle) would investigate this issue and look for solutions.

 

“This is about doing the right thing for our kids,” said Pettigrew. “Far too many children out there get put into the foster care system. We need to find out why.”

 

Gov. Chris Gregoire signed Pettigrew’s legislation – House Bill 1472 – into law at a ceremony on May 14 in Olympia.

 

“We’re trying to find answers for a piece of a larger problem,” said Pettigrew. “Even if you control for poverty and wealth, we have racial disparities in our high-school dropout rates, our college graduation rates and prison populations. That translates into a huge difference in our communities. I hope we can start to find some answers by studying what’s happening with our foster kids, because every child deserves a chance.”

 

Pettigrew pointed to the experience of Michigan, which cut the total number of children in foster care by 2 percent after it focused on the disproportionate number children of color in the system.

 

“This law will help us learn what’s working and what’s not working,” Pettigrew said. “Every child needs a permanent home. A family.”

 

This new law complements the court-ordered Braam plan, which requires the state to track foster care youth and the outcomes of their cases.

 

Among those testifying in committee to support of the reform: former Rep. Kip Tokuda on behalf of the City of Seattle, Sarah Cherin for the Children’s Alliance, Patricia Clark for King County Juvenile Court and Nancy Roberts-Brown of Catalyst for Kids. No one testified against the bill.

 

 

Learn more about Rep. Pettigrew's activities by visiting his news site.

 

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