CONTACT: Rep. Patrick Snyder (608) 266-0655
Rep. Steve Doyle (608)-266-0631

MADISON –Today, the Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care held a press conference to unveil their package of legislation, Foster Forward. The task force introduced thirteen bipartisan bills that address the issues facing the state’s child welfare system. Co-chairs of the committee, Rep. Snyder (R-Schofield) and Rep. Doyle (D-Onalaska) released the following statement following the introduction of the proposals:

“Over the past six months, we had the opportunity to listen to all of those impacted by the child welfare system- the foster children, foster parents, biological parents, county caseworkers, judges and advocates,” said Snyder. “This bipartisan package of legislation takes significant steps towards addressing the challenges facing our foster youth and all of those involved in the foster care system.”

“With the Foster Forward bills, we hope to address six specific areas related to foster care: prevention, foster youth, foster parents, the court process, youth who age out of foster care, and the counties and nonprofits that administer the child welfare system,” said Doyle. “The suggestions given to us by those at the frontlines of the child welfare system have been invaluable as we worked on these proposals.”

The committee traveled to six different communities to listen to local experts and the public. The package of legislation is a product of the input and recommendations made by those who testified before the committee.

Over the next week, the 13 proposals will be circulated for co-sponsorship in both the Assembly and Senate. Following circulation, the proposals will be referred to a standing committee for the public hearing process to begin.

For more information on the Foster Forward legislative package, please view our report:
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/committees/assembly/fc/media/1122/interim-report-speakers-task-force-on-foster-care-002.pdf

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