I need your support! I just launched petition to help support a bill I’ve been working hard on, and I’d love for you to read and sign it! The goal of this bill is simple but powerful: to make sure that babies and toddlers in foster care (ages 0–5) are protected from unnecessary trauma caused by repeated disruptions in their care. One of the biggest changes this bill proposes is requiring early childhood development experts to be involved in every case involving children under 5. These experts would help courts fully understand the child’s emotional, developmental, and attachment needs — something that is often overlooked. To be clear: this is NOT a bill that tries to stop reunification with birth parents. It’s about making sure each decision is made with the whole picture in mind — not just whether a parent completed a checklist, but whether reunification is developmentally appropriate for that specific child at that specific time. We want to know: • Has the child formed secure attachments in their current home? • Has the parent had enough time and support to form a meaningful bond with their child? • Would moving the child right now cause harm that could affect them for life? This bill simply ensures that the child’s needs come first, and that every reunification is truly in their best interest — not just a box to check. Please read the petition, sign it, and share it if you believe every child deserves a voice in decisions that shape their future. ❤️ #ProtectingLittleHearts #ChildCenteredCare #FosterCareReform . I am a foster and adoptive parent as well as a former child welfare case manager. My current foster son, who has been with me since birth, was reunified with his family at 21 months and then re-entered care just three months ago. We are now facing another reunification, which will result in yet another severed secure attachment during his critical developmental years. Disturbingly, he is being placed with his mother, who has never had custody of him or been a caretaker and has only been visiting with her for less than 6 months, this child is 3 1/2 yrs old, and has only ever known me as his mother. Yet when advocating for services to be in place to address his lack of attachment with the parent I’m told that it is not necessary and minimum in home parenting will be sufficient once reunified. This child’s needs and the risks to his long term mental health are not a factor and are not being addressed! This is happening in so so many cases all over the country! Statistics show the 36% of children between the ages of 0-5 that are reunified will re-enter foster care. This is 1/3 of the reunifications that are failing due to this broken system, inadequate services and lack of a child centered approach. These children are paying the price for adults decisions and mistakes over and over again, and it is costing them their lives literally! The effects of this repeated disruption are permanent, and devastating yet the current system does not recognize nor do they consider it! 

This personal experience has highlighted a widespread issue in our child welfare system, which fails to adequately prioritize a child's established attachment relationships when making placement decisions. It is imperative that we implement Attachment-Centered Placement Review in our courts. By doing so, we can require courts and child welfare agencies to assess the strength of a child’s current attachment relationships before approving any placement change. This assessment should include expert input from child development professionals or infant mental health specialists, especially for children under the age of six, where secure attachments are crucial for healthy development.

Furthermore, we need to institute Minimum Stability Standards for Reunification. Reunification should never be an option if it involves severing a secure attachment, potentially causing harm to the child’s emotional and psychological well-being. These children deserve stability and a nurturing environment that supports their development.

It's time for policy change to ensure that the best interests of children are at the heart of our welfare system's decisions. Secure attachments and stability are critical factors that significantly influence the lifelong outcomes of children in care. By implementing these changes, we can prevent unnecessary trauma and promote healthier development for our youngest and most vulnerable.

I urge you to sign this petition to require courts and child welfare agencies to adopt these necessary reforms. Together, we can advocate for a system that truly prioritizes the well-being and future of our children.