October 2, 2014
By Neal Tepel
New York, NY — On September 30th Mayor Bill de Blasio signed several bills into law regarding youth in the foster care system. The bills require the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) to report information related to youth in the foster care system on an annual basis. Intro.
104-A, requires ACS to submit information on youth aging out of foster care, including housing, education, and employment outcomes. Intro. 137-A mandates ACS to report on its efforts in obtaining government-issued personal identification for foster care youth. Intro. 187-A requires that ACS provide information regarding high school enrollment and graduation rates for youth in foster care.
“There are nearly 12,000 children and youth living in foster care throughout New York City. Nearly 1,000 young adults age out of foster care, only to enter back into City services because they weren’t given the tools to succeed. Today, we take a definitive step towards improving the lives of those young adults through tracking them as they transition out of foster care, in order to better understand the problems that they might encounter, and provide them with the support they need to thrive,” said Public Advocate Letitia James.”
The enactment of this legislation, said Mayor bill de Blasio, demonstrates our collective commitment to education and the success of all youth in foster care.
