Indiana House lawmakers are teaming up this legislative session to help young Hoosiers who are transitioning out of the foster care system and starting life on their own.
House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) and House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) joined the IARCA Institute for Excellence, an organization dedicated to supporting services for foster care children and young adults, to launch a donation drive at the Statehouse to collect essential household items for foster care alumni.
“We see and care about those young Hoosiers who’ve spent years, maybe their entire lives, in foster care, and now face the challenges that come with starting life on their own and doing it all without a family support system,” Huston said. “Our goal is to lift up and encourage these young adults to pursue their dreams, and we hope our donations will help them as they work toward setting up their new home or dorm room. Whether you make a donation, become a mentor, help with a job connection, or reach out through your church, there are so many ways Hoosiers can help. I’ve recently connected with several foster care alumni, and it’s made a huge impact on me and my family. I look forward to maintaining these relationships, and being a teammate through life’s ups and downs.”
Foster care is designed to provide temporary housing and care for children and adolescents until they can be either reunited with their family, taken in by relatives, adopted or emancipated as an adult. Approximately 20,000 young adults leave foster care in the U.S. with no legal parental relationship, according to the National Foster Youth Institute. GiaQuinta said foster care alumni often face hardships when leaving the system, especially without family support and little means to establish a permanent home.
“The services the IARCA Institute supports represent hope for many people transitioning into self-sufficient adult lives from the foster care system,” GiaQuinta said. “It’s an honor to partner with my colleagues in the Indiana House of Representatives and IARCA to help these brave, strong individuals get a head start on their next chapter. It’s our duty as Hoosiers to take care of one another. Whether it be in a legislative or charitable capacity, I will do everything in my power to provide a hand up to foster alumni.”
Through its “Fostering Hopeful Futures” charity initiative, the Indiana House of Representatives is collecting essential household items, including plastic plates, bowls and cups, kitchen utensils, oven mitts, and bath items like towels and wash cloths. Toward the session’s halfway point, House lawmakers will host a volunteer activity day at the Statehouse where legislators will pack the donated items into “new home starter kits,” which the IARCA Institute will distribute to foster care alumni throughout Indiana. Huston and GiaQuinta set a goal of assembling 100 kits filled with household items.
“The IARCA Institute is thrilled that the Indiana House has selected foster alumni to highlight during the 2023 session,” said Joshua Oswald, foster care alum and policy manager for IARCA. “Young adulthood is a pivotal time for all youth – decisions made during this period can have an impact for a lifetime. Having undergone the system for the entirety of my childhood, I know this kind of recognition and support from lawmakers goes a long way.”
