On June 30 the Massachusetts Senate voted to pass the legislation known as the Foster Parent Bill of Rights (S.87), which has been on CLM's legislative agenda for the past three sessions. We were thrilled at the strong support for the legislation in the Senate and we are continuing to work with our House champions Representatives Farley-Bouvier and Donato to get the bill passed into law this session. In particular we are grateful to the bill's lead Senate sponsor Senator Joanne Comerford for her leadership on this work in the Senate, and CLM's Intensive Foster Care and Adoption task forces for their continued outreach and education they have provided to the Legislature and other stakeholders on the need for this legislation.
Watch Senator Comerford's remarks on the Senate floor here. (scroll to 58:10)
Why is this legislation important?
This legislation is critical to ensuring foster families experiences are valued and they can access the training, resources and support they deserve to perform this vital job with success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the critical role foster parents play as part of the essential safety net for children became clearer than ever. Foster families were faced with caring for children under extreme circumstances. They found themselves with children home 24/7, supporting virtual learning, facilitating contact with families via technology and being the sole in-person support network for the children in their care. They took on responsibilities far beyond what was ever expected of them and did so as a result of their commitment and passion for supporting children in need.
Foster families are first-hand witnesses of each individual child’s progress, strengths, and challenges—critical information for social workers and others planning and working to achieve positive permanency outcomes. As seen in the recent cases of David Almond and Harmony Montgomery, communication between DCF, courts, and others involved with care is vital to determining the best outcomes for individual children. This legislation ensures foster parents are included in sharing important information about individual children and their needs that should influence ultimate determinations on placement and permanency.
Finally, like all persons in the child welfare network, foster families are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. This bill’s inclusion of the right to be free from all forms of discrimination in carrying out their duties as foster parents is a critical step toward inclusiveness for those wishing to serve as foster families. This also helps ensure that youth in the system can be placed with families that understand and support their individual perspective and identities.