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(L to R) Gerrilyn Levy, Families First; Rep. John Lewis; Anthony Reeves & Sherena Johnson, Foster Club members; Normer Adams, Exec. Dir., GA Assoc. of Homes and Services for Children

Families First Participates in National Fly-In to Support Kinship Caregiver Support Act

More than 100 individuals from 43 states took part in a national fly-in day in April to show their support for federal legislation that would help children in foster care leave the system and kinship caregivers access resources.  The group converged in Washington, D.C. on April 10th to urge their representatives in Congress to pass the Kinship Caregiver Support Act. The act allows states to continue assistance to the family when a child leaves foster care through supported guardianship, similar to the assistance provided to many of the children adopted from foster care.

Families First was represented by Gerrilyn Levy, Foster Care Program Manager. Also participating in the fly-in was Anthony Reeves, former Georgia foster youth and Families First group home resident. The two attended nine congressional meetings and met with representatives in an effort to get them to co-sponsor the Act. Gerrilyn personally met with Representatives John Lewis (D, District 5) and Paul Broun (R, District 10).

 States Gerrilyn, "I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Kids are Waiting Campaign on Capitol Hill. I feel that there is nothing more important than children being raised with their own families/relatives. This Bill will insure that by providing the financial assistance needed as well as the resources and support network necessary families will be able to maintain stable, healthy and secure homes."  Recently, Gerrilyn received confirmation that Rep. John Lewis has signed on to the Bill .  

The national fly-in day was organized and sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, the fly-in was a huge success as more and more co-sponsors are signing on to the Bill.