A couple of dozen people attended the Saturday public hearing in Great Falls held by Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31) and Del. Kathleen Murphy (D-34).
At least six people turned out to support Sen. Barbara Favola's bill on Fostering Futures. This would leverage federal funds to support some of the approximately 500 foster children in Virginia who turn 18 each year without having been adopted or reunited with family, and so are without any family support. Statistics show that many such young adults end up homeless and unemployed, some end up in the criminal justice system. Young women who age out of foster care are particularly vulnerable to falling victim to sex traffickers.
Other topics at the public hearing including raising the minimum wage, increasing the cigarette tax, support for widening Route 7, affordable housing for seniors.