(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee, joined current and former foster youth on the steps of the State Capitol to urge the Governor’s support of her legislation to help youth exiting the foster care system.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1633 now sits on the Governor’s desk awaiting his signature or veto. It passed a concurrence vote in the Assembly with a vote of 53-25 on August 29th, following a Senate vote of 29-11.

“It was an honor standing with these young people to urge the Governor’s support of foster care reform,” said Evans. “We need to do all we can to help our foster children reach their potential. This bill is a first step to fix a broken foster care system and remove obstacles currently before these children.”

AB 1633 will require each child entering the child welfare services system be screened to determine eligibility for federal disability benefits, known as Supplemental Security Income.

“Many foster children are not getting all of the assistance to which they are entitled,” said Evans. “Unfortunately, most foster children go without federal benefits because there is no one to assist them complete the arduous application process.”

AB 1633 also provides that foster youth working toward a GED can remain in their foster home until they complete their work, providing a solution to the 46% of foster youth that fail to complete high school.

“This bill will allow foster youth to stay in their foster homes beyond their eighteenth birthday in order to complete a GED,” noted Evans. “This will really make a difference to youth who are behind in school because they have been moved from home to home and school to school.”

California is a surrogate parent to more than 80,000 children in the foster care system. Nearly 1/3 are homeless within a year after exiting the foster care system. 51% are unemployed within two to four years after exiting the system. More than 40% are on public assistance. One in five will be incarcerated.

“Foster youth are not someone else’s problem,” added Evans. “They are our responsibility and they deserve the support and care that we owe all children.”

AB 1633 is sponsored by the National Center for Youth Law and the California Youth Connection. Further information about AB 1633 is available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.