NFYI

Grateful to @NFYInstitute for bringing Melvin, Bri, lawmakers, and advocates together to fight for foster youth. Their lived experience is crucial to the legislative process and our bipartisan efforts to make the foster system work for every child.

This week was Foster Youth Shadow Week on the Hill, and I appreciated the opportunity to hear from advocates working to strengthen support for youth in care. As Co-Chair of the Foster Care Caucus and a foster-to-adoptive parent, I especially enjoyed meeting our shadow, Alexander, a UC Santa Barbara student working to expand education access and long-term support. Adopting our two foster children brought so much joy to our family. @CaucusOnFY @NFYInstitute

What a week of leadership, learning, and connection! 41 former foster youth. 20 states. 40 congressional offices. Countless conversations and opportunities. Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 Foster Youth Shadow Day possible. #FosterYouthShadowDay 📸: Liza Harbison

Today, the House passed H.R. 7432, the Fostering the Future Act, advancing meaningful reforms to better support foster youth. A tremendous amount of hard work, leadership, and dedication went into developing these reforms, and it is amazing to see this bipartisan effort move one step closer to delivering the brighter future America’s foster youth deserve!

U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passes Fostering the Future Act championed by First Lady Melania Trump   Tuesday, May 19, 2026

LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Board Chair Hilda Solis passed a motion to develop a plan addressing proposed cuts and funding freezes to California’s anti-poverty programs. Supporters warn the cuts could harm families and children. Read: bit.ly/calfrz

Join me and my shadow member, Brandon from the @NFYInstitute for a full day on the Hill! From committee meetings to a photo with #Divine9 presidents, you won’t want to miss it.

@ZachNunn Thank you for the work you do for and with foster youth!

Thank you to @NFYInstitute for bringing lawmakers, advocates, and former foster youth together to celebrate the progress we've made, and to keep fighting for solutions that help more kids find a forever home.

The 2025 Foster Youth Shadow Day on Capitol Hill is officially underway! 30 current/former foster youth from across the country are walking the halls of Congress at this very moment. Their presence is a reminder to lawmakers that young people in foster care deserve to be heard.

The @LA2050 Grants Challenge is a chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of Angelenos, by deciding how $1M in grants will be directed to local communities. If you are a Los Angeles community member, vote today to make impact: la2050.org/vote?nfyi25

Join us in lifting the story of Ella Brinen, a former foster youth pushing for a Foster Youth Bill of Rights in Tennessee. She's using her lived experience to fight for better protection of foster youth in the foster care system. Watch her story here: bit.ly/EmilyBrinen

Join us this coming Thanksgiving weekend for our Virtual 5K! Walk, run, or roll–to help transform the foster youth system, 5K at a time! 👟✨ 🙋🏽‍♀️Why?: Donations and participation impact programming for foster youth leadership  development! Sign up today! bit.ly/nfyi5k2024

There's a push in Congress to help kids from the foster care system pay for college housing. Today I spoke with a woman who was formerly in foster care and beat the odds by getting a bachelor's & master's degree. She's explains the financial hurdles for foster kids @wsoctv

NFYI members Eugenia Wallace and Michael Miser shared their foster care and college experiences as @RepGregLandsman, @RepBeatty, @repdonbacon, and @NCHCWorg discussed a new bill that would make it easier for foster youth to pay for on campus housing: kiro7.com/news/local/new…

Today, I joined @RepGregLandsman, @RepDonBacon, @NFYInstitute & @NCHCWorg, in support of our bipartisan Campus Housing Affordability Act. It’s a beacon of hope for foster and emancipated youth seeking affordable higher education.

We were joined by an all-star group with @RepBeatty & @RepDonBacon to introduce our bipartisan Campus Housing Affordability Act. Hearing from experts with @NFYInstitute and @NCHCWorg reaffirmed the necessity of this bill. This will make college more affordable for thousands.

NFYI is a proud member of the Equitable Access to Transportation Advisory Council. Read our EATAC report that outlines the elements that prevent equitable access to transportation for children in the United States. loom.ly/H-eTp2E

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of showing Cynthia and Nadaly and around the Capitol and to see what a day in the life of a member of Congress is like. Thank you @NFYInstitute for organizing this impactful way to bring awareness to issues foster youth face.

I was honored to meet @NFYInstitute foster youth delegate Rebecca today! Rebecca is an Indy resident, leader, and advocate for change – I can’t wait to see how she continues to leave her mark on our community.

Pleased to spend the day with Andrea Miller! She’s a fierce advocate for foster care across our nation and has dedicated her time to bettering the foster care system and raising awareness about foster youths. Thanks to the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and @NFYInstitute for convening Foster Youth Shadow Day! #fosteryouthvoices #fosteryouthshadowweek