National Town Hall: Priorities for Transition-Age Youth

Join Think of Us for a National Town Hall event to hear directly from Aysha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau & guests from CMS, HUD, and SAMHSA for a special discussion around interagency investments to ensure youth leave care with strengthened relationships, holistic supports, and opportunities.

Associate Commissioner Schomburg has committed to centering lived experience differently and this town hall will feature priorities for transition-aged youth.

This is a virtual event on
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
at 4:00pm ET

Link to RSVP here.

President Biden FY23 Budget Request
President Biden has unveiled his FY2024 budget proposal, and it is important to note that his proposal is just that, a presidential wish list and a statement of values by the Biden Administration to the American people. Given the makeup of Congress, passage of a spending bill will be difficult at best. Below are some of the spending programs that Youth Villages is excited to see and will be advocating for:

• $100 Million increase for the Chafee Program and changes allowing youth to be served to age 27.
• $9 Billion to establish a housing voucher program for all 20,000 youth aging out of foster care.
• $50 Million for states to reduce overrepresentation of children and families of color in the child welfare system.
• $215 Million for states and community-based organizations to respond to and prevent child abuse.
• Expanding and incentivizing the use of evidence based foster care prevention services.
• $387 Million for Behavioral Health Workforce Development Programs.
• $30 million is for a new juvenile justice and child welfare collaboration to address the needs of youth in both systems.

Congress Reintroduces the Foster Youth and Driving Act
Congressmen Danny Davis (D-IL) and Don Bacon (R-NE) and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN) have reintroduced the Foster Youth and Driving Act. This legislation is identical to the legislation introduced in fall of 2022 and would allow Chafee funds to be used to help youth obtain a driver’s license and cover associated expenses (driver’s training, purchasing a car, car insurance, etc.). Youth Villages has endorsed the legislation again for this Congress.

The Quality Improvement Center for Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency
Since 2021, Youth Villages has been on the Youth Engagement Advisory Council of the Quality Improvement Center for Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency (QIC-EY). The QIC-EY is charged with advancing child welfare programs and practice to ensure that the field is authentically engaging and empowering youth in foster care throughout the U.S., especially in relation to permanency decisions. The group recently published a catalogue of programs that demonstrate effectiveness in achieving their goal and LifeSet has been included. In our role as council members, Youth Villages representatives (lived experts) meet with other members of the advisory board to offer feedback, guidance, and improvements to the curriculum being

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