Policymakers, the elected officials and government staff who create laws and programs that affect everyday life,  make important decisions that impact children, youth, and families across the country. Many Congressional staff don’t get a lot of information on what it’s like to be in foster care, or how they can make a difference. At FosterClub, we’re working to change that.

LEx Leaders Yesenia Anaya (who spent 3 years in Michigan’s foster care system) and Cinthia Garcia (who spent 7 years in Indiana’s foster care system) recently met with fellows who are currently serving in Congressional offices. These fellows are part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) Policy Fellowships — a program that trains young professionals to work in government and help shape policies that affect communities across the U.S. The fellows are spending time learning more about what drives policy change as they work in their roles to improve it.

Yesenia and Cinthia shared about their unique experiences as Latiné (a gender-neutral term for people of Latin American heritage) youth who experienced foster care, some of the challenges they and their families faced, and why it’s important for policymakers to hear from and act on recommendations from young people.

For example, they talked about how foster care data and statistics can sometimes feel abstract on paper. Yesenia and Cinthia helped bring those numbers to life by sharing what those realities actually looked and felt like growing up, helping the fellows understand the real human impact behind the policies they work on. Some of the recommendations they both shared include: 

• Talk to us when we are removed; ask us who we are connected to and allow us to be in contact with them. 
• We need foster parents who speak our language and share our culture. 
• Support us in asking for help when we need it
• Ask us what support our family needs; make sure we get that support even after we are reunified. 
• Connect us with our peers who have experienced foster care so we don't feel alone. 

Cinthia and Yesenia helped connect the statistics and system information the fellows had studied to the real-life impact this has on children, youth, and families.

“We’re here. We’re a resource for you and [we want to] help policymakers make 

better policies.”     - Yesenia Anaya

“I know we’re not just helping our generation in foster care but future generations. I’m happy for us and for our Latino and Hispanic community.”     - Cinthia Garcia