|
(Jackson, Mississippi) This week, Attorney General Lynn Fitch joined
President Trump’s A Home for Every Child campaign, launched by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF), signing the first Attorney General proclamation supporting the initiative. The proclamation can be found HERE.
“I am grateful for President Trump's leadership to ensure that children in foster care and the foster families who care for them are supported," said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "The pathway to a stable, loving, forever home is a legal process, and as Attorney General, I am proud of the part our team of dedicated attorneys and paralegals plays in achieving the goals of A Home for Every Child. With stronger coordination and a focus on outcomes for children, we can make real, lasting improvements to Mississippi’s foster care system and give every child the stability and support they deserve."
“Improvements to child welfare cannot be achieved by child welfare agencies alone. It takes a collaborative effort from the community, including law enforcement, faith leaders, and nonprofit partners to advance better outcomes for children and families. We are pleased to partner with Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who has been a strong advocate for protecting children and is setting a high standard for others working in child welfare to follow," said Alex Adams, Assistant Secretary at the Administration for Children and Families at HHS.
Last year, the legal team in the Mississippi Attorney General's Office Children’s Justice Division legally cleared 647 foster children for adoption. Over the past year, this team has engaged in a pilot project with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (CPS), inserting these attorneys earlier into the legal process. Preliminary results show that this cuts the average time a child spends in custody by more than half.
Streamlining and improving foster care and adoption systems is one of five pillars of General Fitch's The Empowerment Project, a policy initiative focused on empowering women and promoting strong Mississippi families. Another pillar is supporting pregnant women and mothers with resources and opportunities. Mississippi Access to Maternal Assistance (MAMA), a free website and mobile app that connects mothers and families to over 400 private, public and faith-based resources available across the state. It is one of the dozen Empowerment Project initiatives passed by the Legislature into law.
|
