President Trump, First Lady Melania Sign Initiative to Improve America’s Foster Care System

In the first section of the order, under “Purpose and Policy,” it reads:

My Administration is dedicated to empowering mothers and fathers to raise their children in safe and loving homes. When crises prevent such an arrangement, our Nation’s foster care system must be ready to serve children in need. Today’s foster care system must be improved in a number of important ways.

Children often stay in foster care for years, and those who transition out due to age frequently face uncertain futures without the support systems essential to educational, career, and relational success. Many caseworkers are overburdened. Information systems are often outdated. Some jurisdictions and organizations maintain policies that discourage or prohibit qualified families from serving children in need as foster and adoptive parents because of their sincerely-held religious beliefs or adherence to basic biological truths.

Our Nation’s children and youth—and the families who care for them—deserve better. To that end, my Administration, with special leadership from the First Lady, will harness Federal support, technology, and strategic partnerships to provide young Americans in or transitioning out of the foster care system with the tools they need to become successful adults…

Among the many present at the signing was Eric Alvarez, who was formerly in the foster care system, but now is soon to be commissioned as an Air Force officer.

President Trump had him stand as he said,“Eric and his siblings were placed in foster care at 9…and child welfare system at 15. Today, he credits a mentoring and work experience program [with] helping him finish high school and start his adult life.”