TAMPA, Fla. — Some Bay Area students say they are fighting for legislation to help fix the foster care system.
What You Need To Know
- "See Us Now" launched the Children in Foster Care Rock social media challenge
- Organizers say they want to raise awareness about the challenges foster kids face
- The students are concerned kids their own age are in crisis and need protection when it comes to things like health care and housing
Students at Carrollwood Day School are heading into summer break finding ways to use social media for good and spread the word about Foster Care Awareness Month.
The student-led organization, "See Us Now" launched the Children in Foster Care Rock social media challenge to raise awareness of challenges foster kids face. They say those issues include safe housing, mental health support to human trafficking.
The group of 34 students in seventh to 12th grade advocate for kids in crisis. The young activists work locally and across the country, meeting with lawmakers, entertainers and leaders of major corporations to help raise awareness.
Their efforts recently earned them the President's Volunteer Service Award Gold Medal. The students hope to return to the nation's Capitol this summer to continue fighting for legislation, specifically the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for Children in Foster Care Act.
The students say they are concerned kids their own age are in crisis and need protection when it comes to things like health care and housing.
"For me, especially if I was in that situation, if I was a foster kid, I would want someone advocating for me," said 14-year-old Bobby Miller. "I would want someone to help me out with health care, getting the right care and being put with a loving family.”