INDIANA – May marks National Foster Care Awareness Month, a crucial time for the nation to renew its commitment to protecting vulnerable children, ensuring they have safety, stability, and a future filled with opportunity.
For Congresswoman Erin Houchin, representing Indiana’s 9th District, this isn’t just a policy matter; it’s a deeply personal mission. Drawing from her experience as a Family Case Manager for the Indiana Department of Child Services, Houchin has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of neglect, abuse, addiction, and violence on young lives, underscoring the urgent need for robust support systems for children in crisis and the dedicated families who step up to provide care.
Every Child Deserves a Chance
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month—a time to recommit ourselves to one of our most
fundamental responsibilities: protecting vulnerable children. These young lives deserve safety, stability,
and a future filled with opportunity.
This is not just a policy issue for me—it’s personal.
Before coming to Congress, I served as a Family Case Manager for the Indiana Department of Child
Services. I saw what happens when children are failed by the adults in their lives—neglected, abused, or
exposed to addiction and violence. These children didn’t choose their circumstances, but they are the
ones who suffer the consequences.
While the heartbreak of removal is real, it is sometimes necessary for the safety of the child and to
restore stability in families. This can be accomplished through kinship and foster care. However, our first
and highest priority must always be the safety and best interest of the child.
Today, more than 390,000 children are in the foster care system across America. Behind that number
are real children—each with a name, a story, and a future that depends on our decisions as lawmakers
and fellow citizens.
I joined the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth to promote policies that protect children. That
includes early interventions and prevention strategies, catching warning signs, and offering support
through family preservation programs before abuse or neglect escalates. Family Resource Centers, for
example, provide a safety net, offering counseling, crisis intervention, parenting classes, and mental
health services in communities across the country. This can be a critical lifeline for families and children.
We must also support those who step up when the system must intervene—foster families. These
individuals provide not only shelter, but also hope to children in crisis. I’ve championed tax credits for foster
parents, expanded access to wraparound services to ensure families are equipped to meet the complex
needs of the children they care for, and pushed for adequate financial support to facilitate adoption and
aftercare.
It’s also worth recognizing the leadership of First Lady Melania Trump. Through her “Be Best” initiative,
she helped secure a historic $100 million investment in foster care programs during President Trump’s
first term. Recently, she helped deliver another $25 million in the President’s FY26 budget to support
housing and services for youth aging out of the system.
Despite these important efforts, our foster care system still faces major challenges. Too many children
bounce between placements, disrupting their education and emotional development. Teenagers and
children aging out of foster care are especially vulnerable—many face homelessness, addiction,
incomplete education, or incarceration if they leave care without the tools to transition into adulthood.
Recognizing Foster Care Awareness Month isn’t about checking a box. It’s about making good on a
national promise: that every child, no matter their background, deserves safety, stability, a loving
home, and a chance to thrive.
As a former case manager, a mother, and a member of Congress, I will continue fighting to protect these
children. And I urge my colleagues and every American to join me.
Congresswoman Erin Houchin represents Indiana’s 9th District.
