Heitkamp Emphasizes Commitment to ND Foster Care Families

Press Release

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today spoke with foster families and advocates at the PATH annual meeting to highlight the organization's life-changing work to support young people, reinforce the need to support foster families, and emphasize her commitment to standing up for foster children and families.

PATH is a service-focused organization built on offering foster families a responsive and ongoing network of support to make sure they have skills, training, and understanding to provide children with a safe and nurturing place to call home. At PATH's annual meeting, Heitkamp spoke with advocates, leaders, and foster family community members about her commitment to pushing for policies in the U.S. Senate that will support foster families and the important role PATH plays in North Dakota's foster care community.

"Providing a safe place to call home for children in foster care is one of the most selfless acts a family can choose to make," said Heitkamp. "It was an honor to join leaders in the foster care community today to reinforce the importance of their work to nurturing young children, and highlight the critical work PATH does to support foster families across the state. PATH takes challenging cases and -- with love, patience, and extensive training -- helps give so many youth a childhood. As a member of the Caucus on Foster Youth, I'm working in the U.S. Senate to make sure federal policies best serve children in the foster care system and support foster parents in their critical role. I hope to continue partnering with the amazing advocates and foster families in our state to secure a bright and safe future for all kids."

Heitkamp has long promoted the work of North Dakota's foster families, and has encouraged more families to care for young people in need. In March 2015, Heitkamp reintroduced legislation to support the well-being of foster children by providing additional tax relief for current foster families, encouraging more Americans to consider offering safe homes to foster children across the country. The bill would also direct the federal government to do a better job reaching out to and educating current foster families about the financial benefits already available to them.

Also in March 2015, Heitkamp helped reintroduce the bipartisan Tribal Adoption Parity Act with Republican Senator James Inhofe from Oklahoma. Heitkamp's bill would allow tribal governments to designate children as having special needs -- just as states can -- enabling adoptive parents to claim the full adoption tax credit.

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