SAINT PAUL, MN – On Tuesday, Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, presented her bill, HF3626 to the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee. The bipartisan legislation would create guidelines to help keep foster youth connected with their siblings. It does so by promoting close connections for foster siblings (when it is in the best interest of each sibling), including visits, phone calls, and taking part in important celebrations like birthdays.
“This bill seeks to help those children who are among the most vulnerable in our society – our foster kids,” said Bennett. “We all know how important our siblings are to each of us, and foster kids are no different. Children in foster care already face difficulties that are tough to imagine, and I think this bill can help ease these hardships and promote healthy growth by assisting these kids in staying connected to their siblings as much as possible.”
Rep. Bennett was joined by two advocates who, while living in foster care, faced difficulties maintaining a connection to a sibling living in the care of different foster parents.
Sasha Martin (left) and Vivianna Castillo-Roybal (center) joined Rep. Bennett to testify in favor of the HF3626.
“Sasha and Vivianna were so brave to come to St. Paul to tell their story and to advocate for this bill,” said Bennett. “Their testimony helped drive home how important this legislation is in helping our young people in foster care maintain the important family relationships with their siblings.”
The bill was passed out of the Health and Human Services Reform Committee and was referred to the Health and Human Services Finance Committee where Rep. Bennett is requesting a hearing.