Our Advocacy Efforts
We're using whatever influence we have to remove barriers to youth growing into successful adults - whether in the child welfare system, in colleges' and universities' policies and practices, or in state and federal policies. Join these efforts by adding your voice to the cause.
Current Advocacy Issues
Child Welfare COVID Relief
October 14, 2020
Advocacy during a pandemic looks a little different! Executive Director Kate Danielson was invited to speak to Illinois Senators Durbin and Duckworth about the importance of increased support for foster youth during the pandemic - business attire is not required when advocacy happens over the phone!
Foster Progress urges legislators to pass a bill bringing relief to the Child Welfare industry as we navigate the COVID pandemic. We have a special interest in seeing the proposed increase to the Education and Training Voucher from $5,000 per year to $12,000, among other provisions.
House Releases Bipartisan Child Welfare COVID-19 Relief Legislation
Find the press release for the Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act here.
Find a section-by-section summary of the bill here.
Find a fact sheet on the legislation here.
Find the full text of the bill here.
Senate Child Welfare Emergency Assistance Act
Find the press release for the Child Welfare Emergency Assistance Act here.
Find a one-page summary of the bill here.
Find the full text of the bill here.
Higher Education Housing and Opportunities Act
March 3, 2020
Foster Progress supports legislation (SB2548) to require all institutions of higher education in Illinois to name a liaison who will help ensure youth have stable housing. This liaison will work with youth who experienced foster care and also youth who are considered homeless. Thank you to our friends at Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton for sponsoring this important bill!
CLICK TO ACCESS PDF
CLICK TO ACCESS PDF
CLICK TO ACCESS PDF
Financial Aid and Guardianship Scandal
August 7, 2019
Foster Progress had the opportunity to testify to two committees of the Illinois House of Representatives (Higher Education and Higher Education Appropriations) who met to discuss ways to close loopholes in that allowed people to get need-based financial aid that they wouldn’t normally qualify for. Legislators and advocates in Illinois have worked hard to ensure that youth from foster care have access to need-based financial aid, and we wanted to urge our representatives to be careful to avoid creating new obstacles for our youth. See our statement below, as well as the Chicago Tribune article citing our testimony.
2018 Advocacy Issues
Thank you for supporting this Illinois bill waiving tuition for all youth from foster care!
UPDATE Friday, August 24, 2018: Governor Rauner signed HB 5122, Tuition Waivers for Illinois Youth in Foster Care, into law! For more information about the specifics of the bill, click here.
Thank you to...
Representative Chris Welch and the other legislators who sponsored the bill
Kyle Hillman at the National Association of Social Workers for drafting the bill
Foster Care Alumni of America - Illinois Chapter for leading the advocacy charge
The Start to Finish Coalition, Children's Home & Aid, United Way, Young Invincibles, and ChildLaw Policy Institute at Loyola University, and all of the individuals who called and wrote to the governor and legislators!
Our sign-on letter to Governor Rauner
UPDATE Wednesday, May 30, 2018: Thank you to all who called, All we need now is the signature of the governor!
UPDATE Tuesday, May 7, 2018: H.B. 5122
A week ago, we alerted you to H.B. 5122, a bill that would provide tuition waivers and fee waivers for all youth in Illinois foster care.
Because of the cost of related stipends, the bill has taken a small step backwards. However, there is a good chance it could still progress to the full Senate, especially if members hear how important it is.
The bill will be voted on by the Human Services committee on Tuesday 5/8. It's important for committee members to hear from you about how important this bill is for foster youth! We are hosting a virtual call-a-thon on Monday 5/7 from 12pm-5pm with a goal of getting a 100 supporters to call at least 2 committee members. Do you have five minutes to spare? Please see below for the committee members' phone numbers and join in today!
Even easier, fill out a witness slip as a proponent of the bill. Your voice matters to your state senators!
Senator Julie A. Morrison (D)
29th District
(217) 782-3650
Senator Daniel Biss (D)
9th District
(217) 782-2119
Senator Omar Aquino (D)
2nd District
(217) 782-5652
Senator Melinda Bush (D)
31st District
(217) 782-7352
Senator Mattie Hunter (D)
3rd District
(217) 782-5966
Senator Heather A. Steans (D)
7th District
(217) 782-8492
Senator Dave Syverson (R)
35th District
(217) 782-5413
Senator Tim Bivins (R)
45th District
(217) 782-0180
Senator Jim Oberweis (R)
25th District
(217) 782-0471
Senator Dale A. Righter (R)
55th District
(217) 782-6674
ORIGINAL POST FROM APRIL 25, 2018
House Bill 5122 (H.B. 5122) would create tuition and fee waivers to allow all Illinois foster youth to attend college, after taking into account other financial aid. The bill specifies that youth must have a high school diploma or high school equivalency and gives youth the option to attend any public university or community college in Illinois. This is an amazing opportunity for our youth to build a successful and stable future for themselves.
The bill has already passed the Illinois House and will now be heard in the Senate. It may be voted on soon. It's important for Senators to hear that voters in their communities support this bill.
Please call your State Senator and ask them to vote in favor of H.B. 5122. Let's make a lasting commitment as a state to support our foster youth into adulthood.
It takes just takes a few steps:
1. Breath deeply- it is legislators' job to hear from you and represent you.
2. Look up your State Senator here: https://openstates.org
3. Call the number in Springfield.
4. When the Legislative Assistant answers use the attached script to tell them you are a voter from the district and tell them you are in favor of H.B.5122. Tell one or two reasons why. Ask them how the Senator plans to vote and ask that the Senator vote in favor.
5. Pat yourself on the back- you took a stand for foster youth today!
Join us in supporting legislation that eases the transition to college for homeless and foster youth
We're asking our senators and representatives to sign on as co-sponsors these two bills, which would make college more affordable and accessible for the youth we serve.
Learn more about the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act.
Learn more about the Fostering Success in Higher Education Act of 2017.
Copy and personalize the sample letters below. Feel free to paste them into an email or send them via postal mail to your senators and representative. Phone calls are even more effective!