Guam committee hears Foster Care Bill of Rights; advocates urge codification to access federal supports

The Committee on Child Welfare, Youth Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women's Affairs, Disability Services, Arts, Culture, Historic Preservation, and Hagatna Restoration held a public hearing May 23 on bill number 139‑38 COR, the Foster Care Bill of Rights Act of 2025, which would add new sections to Article 3, Chapter 13, Title 19, Guam Code Annotated to codify rights for children in foster care and for their caregivers.

Senator Shelley v. Calvo, the bill’s prime author, said the measure would enshrine protections intended to ensure ‘‘a secure and supportive environment’’ for foster youth and to help Guam access federal supports such as the John H. Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. National and local witnesses described evidence‑based supports the committee should consider alongside statutory rights.

Rebecca Louv Yao, chief executive officer of the National Foster Youth Institute (participating by Zoom from Washington, D.C.), testified the bill ‘‘centers the voices and rights of children and youth in foster care’’ and urged Guam to pair codified…