Wake Senator Leading Charge to Overhaul NC Child Welfare System

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Capitol Broadcasting Company

By Matthew Burns and Laura Leslie

RALEIGH, N.C. — Saying North Carolina's child welfare system has failed too many youngsters for too long, Sen. Tamara Barringer, R-Wake, said Wednesday it's time to overhaul the system.

"Children deserve a family, not a system," Barringer, a foster mother herself for 10 years, said during a news conference to discuss Senate Bill 594, which she filed Tuesday. 

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NC Legislators Eye Improvements to Beleaguered Foster Care System

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WNCN

By Carleigh Griffeth 

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Around 10,500 kids in North Carolina are depending on the state to give them a good home. That’s why state lawmakers are now calling for an overhaul of the child welfare system. It’s an organization that has been struggling to keep up with the number of children entering foster care.

CBS NC reported on the foster parent shortage back in February.

“How many times do we have to be told that we are failing before we do something?” said Sen. Tamara Barringer, (R-Wake County) 

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NC Senate Bill Looks To Address Foster Child Care Problems

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WTVD-TV.

By DeJuan Hoggard 

RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- In December 2015, a report by the US Department of Health & Human Services found North Carolina to not be in "substantial conformity" when it came to safety and quality of children in the social services system.

On Wednesday, Republican State Sen. Tamara Barringer stood before members of the press, and flanked by supporters and other lawmakers, introduced Senate Bill 594, the Child/Family Protection and Accountability Act. 

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Groundbreaking Program Helping Foster Children Get Driver’s Licenses Made Permanent as SB 60 Passes House and Goes to Governor

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Guardian ad Litem  

By Alan Abramowitz

Tallahassee, Florida – A pilot program helping youth in the child welfare system get driver’s licenses, was expanded and became permanent today with the passage of SB 60 and HB 217.  Known as the “Keys to Independence Act,” the program assists youth with getting a learner’s permit or driver’s license, helps find driver education courses and insurance, and offers financial assistance.  The program has served over 1,200 youth, and quadrupled the number of children with licenses, prompting Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina) and Representative Jennifer Sullivan (R-Eustis) to file legislation to make it permanent and enhance it.

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Gov. Bevin ceremonially signs legislation supporting children in foster care

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The Ohio County Monitor

By OC Monitor Staff

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Matt Bevin today ceremonially signed two pieces of recently enacted legislation improving the lives of children removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. House Bill 180 allows youth to be temporarily placed with non-relative adults who already have a significant emotional relationship with the child. House Bill 192 allows foster children to obtain their learner’s permits and driver’s licenses without the signature of their parent or guardian.

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Move to give foster teen Keys to Independence puts Florida in spotlight

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Orlando Sentinel

By Kate Santich

When he turned 16, Martavius Lowery watched wistfully as his friends and classmates got their driver’s licenses — and often, not long after, cars to call their own. But the Longwood teen — “Marty” to his friends — was in foster care. He had no way to take a driver’s education course, which wasn’t offered at his high school; no one to pay for his auto insurance; and certainly no one eager to buy him a car or even co-sign for a loan.

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Senate backs driver's licenses for foster kids

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News 4 Jax

By News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Senate on Thursday unanimously approved extending a program that helps foster children get driver's licenses.

The bill (SB 60), sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, would make permanent a pilot program that helps foster children pay for insurance and other costs related to getting driver's licenses.

Read the full story here.