May 25, 2006–A message from EMQ CEO Jerry Doyle: Ask California's governor and legislature to support foster kids, foster care system reform, and mentor programs.

"As a longtime lifelong advocate for foster care youth and a longtime provider of services for them, it is exciting to witness both the Administration s and the Legislature s recognition of foster care as a top priority for the state of California. They have done this by including a Foster Care funding package in the proposed 2006 California Budget.

It has always been EMQ Children & Family Services' strong belief that foster youth and their families deserve the utmost attention and support from the state, county and federal government. From every angle of life, be it health, education, family, or community, these foster youth rely upon California s citizens and policymakers to give to them the support and offer them the opportunities that we afford to our own families.

The Child Welfare System must be adequately funded and staffed to enable our systems to better meet the needs of our most vulnerable youth. Please ask your California legislators to stand firm in appropriating new monies as budget negotiations move forward. Specifically, ask them to make sure the 2006 Budget focuses on increasing funds to reduce the caseloads of social workers, strengthen family unification through Kin-GAP, and address issues that foster youth face when emancipating from the system. Adequate funding now, and comprehensive systemic reform of our Child Welfare System, will ensure the greatest return on our taxpayers  investment in our foster youth and enable them to reach higher levels of success and independence.

Please ask your legislators to be champions for foster youth and fully fund the child welfare system through investing $75 million dollars for the future of California s youth and their families in their system."

In addition to your letters of support for the foster care package, I encourage you to submit and/or include support for the Governor to earmark funds for Mentoring programs in the budget. Many youth in care refer to mentoring and permanent connections as a key factor in the support needed for a youth to succeed and increase their well being."

Sincerely,
F. Jerome Doyle, CEO
EMQ Children & Family Services

Here's what you can do to help:

Contact your legislators. To locate your legislators:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

• Email Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at www.govmail.ca.gov
• Fax the Governor at 916-445-4633
• Send a letter to the Governor at:
  ÝÝÝÝÝÝGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger
  ÝÝÝÝÝÝState Capitol Building
  ÝÝÝÝÝÝSacramento, CA 95814