Overview

The Michael Reagan Center for Advocacy & Research, operating from a Christian worldview, conducts research in order to effectively advocate for public policies that benefit the safety, stability and well-being of children and families, particularly those served by public and private child welfare systems.

Contact: Faye Justice Eson
Arrow Child & Family Ministries
Phone: (281) 210-1524
Email: faye.eson@arrow.org

January 31, 2012

The Honorable Beth Harwell
Speaker of the House
301 6th Avenue North
Suite 19, Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243

Dear Speaker Harwell,

My biological mother was an unmarried young woman from Ohio who had an affair with a married man. It was 1945 -- my biological father was in the army and was shipped off to France to fight in the war while my mother went to California to give birth to me.

My mother made the painful decision to put me up for adoption. Thankfully, I was adopted by Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman.

Sadly, there are thousands of children in Tennessee and across the country who never find a loving permanent home. They grow up in a group home, or are shuffled from foster home to foster home. The majority of children who "age out" of foster care are not equipped to live as productive adults. Statistics show that they are less likely to graduate from high school. They are less likely to be employed and, even when they are employed, are more likely to have jobs that do not pay a living wage. They are more likely to experience violence, homelessness and mental illness. And they are more likely to fall victim to substance abuse and to be incarcerated. Females are more likely to have unwanted pregnancies. Our nation's foster children deserve better. They deserve the chance to be properly prepared for adulthood.

Jimmy Wayne -- country music singer, child advocate and my friend -- brought to my attention HB 2337 (SB 2199), which will allow youth in Tennessee to stay in foster care until the age of 21. As a national advocate for children, I strongly support this legislation and encourage all members of the Tennessee General Assembly to vote in support.

Michael Reagan

cc: Senator Mark Norris
Rep. Gerald McCormick
Rep. Mark White
Jimmy Wayne