For Immediate Release Monday, May 10, 2004
Contact: Gina Russo, The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, 202.687.0697

On any given day in the United States, there are half a million children in foster care, placed there to protect them from abuse or neglect. They remain in care for an average of three years, and are moved an average of three times. Long periods in multiple foster homes place children at higher risk for developing behavior and mental health problems, and problems in school.

For the past year, the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care has been developing federal financing and court recommendations to improve foster care. The Commission developed these recommendations to prompt the courts and the federal government to intensify their efforts to protect children currently in foster care, and move them more quickly to safe, permanent families.

Participants will include:

The Honorable Bill Frenzel
Chairman, Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care
Guest Scholar, Governance Studies, The Brookings Institution
Former Member of Congress (R-MN), Ranking Minority Member, House Budget Committee

The Honorable William H. Gray, III
Vice Chair, Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care
President and CEO, United Negro College Fund
Former Member of Congress (D-PA), Majority Whip and Chair, House Budget Committee

Rebecca W. Rimel
President and CEO, The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Honorable Maura Corrigan
Member, Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care
Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court

Helen Jones-Kelley
Member, Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care
Executive Director, Montgomery County, Ohio Children Services