A bipartisan bill recently introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) would bolster support for children and parents affected by America’s worsening opioid crisis.
“As our nation continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic, it is essential that we recognize the impact the epidemic has on children within families touched by problem drug use and addiction,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said.
Specifically, Rep. Fitzpatrick cosponsored the Furthering Opioid Services, Training, and Education Resources (FOSTER) Act, H.R. 5469, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), and nine other original cosponsors.
“Our bipartisan FOSTER Act uses a comprehensive, whole-family approach to address one of our nation’s most pressing issues by providing dedicated resources to children in kinship care who are affected by familial opioid use,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, who added that “this vital legislation… will protect our at-risk children.”
If enacted, H.R. 5469 would amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide grants to states and localities providing child protective services to train staff and caregivers about the impact of opioid addiction on children under their care, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office.
The grants could be used for foster care workforce recruitment and training on the effects of parental opioid use on children; foster and adoptive parent education on the impact of opioids; and addiction treatment services for parents, the summary says.
“Opioid use among parents can push at-risk children into an overloaded foster care system without sufficient resources,” added Rep. Strickland. “By introducing the FOSTER Act, we are calling on Congress to support foster children and caregivers affected by the opioid crisis.”
H.R. 5469 has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.