As a dad of six — including two incredible daughters my wife Kelly and I were blessed to foster and later adopt — I’ve seen firsthand how life-changing it can be when a child finds the stability, love, and opportunity of a forever family.
But the truth is, far too many kids never get that chance.
The problem: Every year, thousands of young Iowans move through our foster care system without consistent support, a stable home, or a mentor to guide them into adulthood.
Why it matters: When that type of support falls short, the consequences are real and heartbreaking. Too many teens age out of foster care only to face higher risks of homelessness, unemployment, or worse. That’s unacceptable — and we can do better.
That’s why today, I joined the National Foster Youth Institute and the Casey Family Programs to talk about what must change and why listening directly to foster youth is essential to fixing the system.
As a Co-Chair of the Foster Youth Caucus, I’m working across the aisle to advance practical, bipartisan solutions that give every child a stronger path forward, including:
âś… Fight for Families Act to help families overcome the high costs of adoption
âś… A $5,000 Adoption Tax Credit included in the Working Families Tax Cuts package
âś… Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act to ensure foster youth have access to stable, affordable college housingÂ
✅ Codifying the President’s executive order to expand options for foster youth transitioning out of foster care and into adulthood
Bottom Line: Every child deserves a real shot at a bright future. Strengthening foster care isn’t just about passing common sense policy — it’s also about building a system that delivers stable homes, lasting support, and real opportunity for every foster youth.