Good Day,

First, thank you sincerely for showing your support for children, families, foster youth, and those who are the most vulnerable in our society.

I met with Senator Ossoff's office today and urged for action regarding enacting H.R.5028. I also offered researched suggestions for simple reforms that must be implemented at the federal level to keep children and youth in care safe and thriving. Senator Ossof's Report on Georgia's foster care system revealed "Systemic Failures". The most recent Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) audit, reviewing cases from spring 2023, found that DFCS failed to properly assess and address safety concerns in **84%** of cases reviewed. The findings revealed reported sexual and physical abuse often went without investigation sometimes leading to the death of the child while in state care. The Subcommittee’s review of prior audits shows that DFCS has failed to meet federal safety standards for at least the last seven years. 

Tomorrow I will meet with the Majority Chair of The Committee on Education and the Workforce, Representative Foxx. I intend to speak to all members of the Committee if necessary.

Please share the petition with your networks and post on social media. It is more crucial than ever that Americans are informed of the horrific practice of separating loving families due to poverty. The consequences of such separations are not just limited to family trauma. Placing hundreds of thousands of children needlessly into state care overburdens the system and strains the already limited resources needed to keep children in care safe. The more signatures we can gather, the more people we can inform, the more likely Congress Members will be unable to turn a blind eye.

With Gratitude,

Jordan