House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

The Corona Virus has created unprecedented challenges for our health and human services systems in serving our most vulnerable families, children and youth.  In a world where our face-to-face connections with those we serve are critical components of the services themselves, the present crisis has restricted our ability to make these essential connections.  Restricted face-to-face contact is primarily troubling for our work in child welfare including child protective services, foster care, transitional living for older youth, and adoption, but it has been necessary to prevent the spread of such a devastating virus and protect our most vulnerable.

As we resume some normalcy and stay at home orders are lifted, we cannot forget that our child welfare workers and service providers are in great need of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Unfortunately, they are struggling to obtain sufficient PPE and this will present a barrier to meeting their face-to-face obligations.  I am introducing legislation to allow County agencies and service providers to obtain additional funding to meet their PPE needs.

I urge my colleagues to join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.  Our children, their families and those who diligently help and provide guidance to them need our time, attention, support and a system capable of helping them thrive while we adjust to this "new normal.'