Monday, November 24, 2008

Subsidized Guardianship

Junior speaks in front of U.S. representatives and senators about child welfare act

Rob Johnson was selected to speak by the North American Council on Adoptable Children at a reception in front of 147 House Representatives and 27 U.S. Senators because of his presentation skills and his personal experience with subsidized guardianship.

Subsidized guardianship is when family members are compensated for caring for their relatives who would otherwise be in the foster care system.

While growing up, Johnson experienced the foster care system before moving in with his aunt, who became his legal guardian. Johnson said the foster system did more harm than good. His move into subsidized guardianship with his aunt turned things around.

Johnson thanked the attendees for the passing of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. The bill deals with improving the situations in which foster children find themselves.

Johnson: "I saw that a lot of children in the foster system were going through so much stuff and the system wasn't working. By passing this bill, it will help other youth in foster care move to permanent families through subsidized guardianship, adoption or reunification."

The act passed the House on Sept. 17, 2008, and the Senate on Sept. 22. President Bush signed the act into law on Oct. 7.

No comments: