As foster youth of the State of Michigan we ask for your help! Please answer the call and help us in the way that only you, members of the Michigan Legislature and Governor, can. 

By being in foster care, you’ve become our parents which means you have the authority, responsibility, and power to keep us safe and help us through this COVID-19 pandemic. We ask you to do this by passing Michigan Senate Bill 36, S-2; releasing nearly $11.5 million in Chafee pandemic relief funds, fought for by foster youth, given to Michigan by the federal government in March. 

This pandemic has impacted us in ways that are hard to imagine. 43 % of foster youth across the nation are facing housing insecurity, less than half of us have been able to remain employed, more than half of us haven’t received unemployment benefits or a stimulus check, and about 20% of us face food insecurity.  The toll this taking on our physical, mental, and emotional health is indescribable. While our peers have been surrounded by the nurture and support of a family, we were often further isolated and alone even throughout holidays and breaks. 

Colleges and Universities across the state accommodated those of us with nowhere else to go, but we were without the supports both mentally, emotionally, and technologically we needed to thrive. This led to many of us performing poorly academically and some of us gave up on our higher education all together.

But you have the power to fix all of this. We've been waiting since March when Michigan received its federal Chafee funding for help. With many of the flexibilities and provisions attached to those funds set to expire on September 30, 2021 we can’t wait anymore. 

Please ACT NOW and help us. We are your children, and we need you.

Sincerely,

Empowering Foster Youth through Technology (EFyTECH)

EFyTECH is a foster youth-led policy group supported by Park West Foundation

Established in 2006, Park West Foundation serves as the charitable arm of Park West Gallery, which inspires and supports Michigan's youth who age out of the foster care system. The Park West Foundation takes great pride in the success that has been realized due to the implementation of innovative youth-led solutions that have addressed critical needs of Michigan youth.

Thank you for the support to our partners: FosterClub - www.fosterclub.org ; Youth Villages- www.youthvillages.org ; Youth Law Center- www.ylc.org

Foster Hope in Foster Youth! 

#FosterHope #iFoster27 #EFyTECH