Volume 31

The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care is sending out the media advisory below at the request of Generations United

Media Advisory
Contact: Doug Lent 202-289-3979

New Report Details Impact of Meth on Foster Care, Children and Families

Generations United to Host Congressional Briefing

Nationally, the methamphetamine crisis has taken a powerful, tragic hold over an increasing number of children, families and the child welfare systems that protect them. Substantial numbers of communities report that meth is a primary factor in foster care cases. Already under tremendous strain, child welfare systems in many states have been overwhelmed by the problems caused by meth and are challenged to find ways to keep children safe with restricted and inflexible resources.

Sharing in the struggle are thousands of grandparents and other relatives who care for children in foster care. These "grandfamilies" step in to care for children in crisis, whether because of meth or other reasons, and they need support to help these children remain in safe permanent families.

WHAT:
Release of a new report on the impact of meth on foster care and a congressional briefing to address the challenges meth poses to the foster care system and grandfamilies, and discuss policy solutions for child welfare financing and the courts.

WHO:
Donna Butts, Executive Director, Generations United
Jim O'Hara, Director, Policy Initiatives and the Health and Human Services Program, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Mary Lenora White and Jennifer Deanna Starr, Grandparent and Grandchild, Sioux City, IA, Tribal Members, Santee Sioux Nation
Betsy Dunn, Child Protection Services Case Manager, Tennessee Department of Children's Services
Leona O'Conner, Grandparent raising her grandchildren, Tucson, Arizona
Dr. Rizwan Z. Shah, Medical Director of the Child Abuse Program at Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa

WHEN:
Thursday, June 8th, 2006, 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.

WHERE:
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 138, Washington, D.C. 20510

RSVP: Space is limited. Please contact Roxana Martinez at 202-289-3979 (phone) or rmartinez@gu.org.

FOR PRESS QUESTIONS: Contact Doug Lent at 202-289-3979 or dlent@gu.org

Sponsors: House Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamines, Generations United, National Indian Child Welfare Association Inc., Child Welfare League of America, Children's Law Center/Home at Last, North American Council on Adoptable Children.

Generations United's "Uniting Generations to Support Children in Foster Care" project, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, is raising awareness about the need for federal guardianship assistance to support older Americans raising children in foster care and for improved court oversight of foster care.