Advocating for Foster Youth on Capitol Hill: A Conversation with Executive Director Gianna Dahlia
We sat down with Executive Director Gianna Dahlia to discuss her recent trip to Washington, D.C., where she spoke with lawmakers about urgent issues like foster care, Medicaid, federal budget cuts, and the growing challenges facing foster families.
Q: What inspired you to take this trip to Washington, D.C., and speak out on Capitol Hill on behalf of foster children?
A: What inspired me to take this trip to Washington, D.C., and speak out on Capitol Hill is both personal and professional. As someone whose mission—day in and day out—is to improve the foster care experience, it’s essential that we engage directly with the very system shaping the lives of the children and families we serve.
This is exactly why I joined the FFTA (FFTA works to advance best practices and advocate for policies that support families in their care and treatment for children.) Board of Directors a few years ago. I wanted to deepen my understanding of the policy landscape and use Foster Love’s platform to advocate for real, lasting change. Being here in D.C. is a natural extension of that commitment—to stand alongside others in the field, elevate the voices of foster youth and families, and help shape the best possible policies and practices for those navigating this system.
The bill includes significant changes that could affect millions, including:
- Nearly $300 billion in cuts to SNAP, adding new work-related reporting requirements.
- New cost-sharing requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries, potentially limiting access to care.
- Increased paperwork for eligibility determinations, creating barriers to coverage.
Q: Can you walk us through the key issues you addressed while meeting with lawmakers?
A: The House Budget Reconciliation Bill (‘Big Beautiful Bill’) includes proposed cuts to critical programs like Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance, and essential discretionary funding for child abuse prevention, youth homelessness, and foster youth education. These aren’t just numbers on a page—they represent lifelines for the very children and families we serve. If passed, these cuts would disproportionately impact those in the child welfare system, putting already vulnerable lives at even greater risk.
Another major issue we discussed was the growing insurance crisis impacting foster family agencies in California. The Insurance Alliance for Nonprofits has announced it will no longer be renewing coverage for these agencies, forcing them to seek insurance from private carriers—often at three to four times the current annual rate. This shift is financially unsustainable, especially for agencies that specialize in caring for medically fragile children who require the most intensive support.
If no solution is found, over 70% of foster family agencies in California are projected to shut down within the next year. That would be a devastating loss for our state’s most vulnerable youth. This crisis demands urgent attention and action.
These aren’t abstract policy shifts—they’re lifelines. When we strip away access to healthcare, food, and housing, we’re not just tightening budgets—we’re making it harder for foster families to stay afloat and for youth to heal and thrive. The foster care system is already stretched thin, and these cuts could push it past a breaking point. That’s why we’re speaking up—because children and families deserve better, not less.
Q: Why is protecting Medicaid funding so critical to the well-being of children in foster care?
A: Protecting Medicaid funding is absolutely critical to the well-being of children in foster care because, for many of them, it’s their only consistent access to healthcare—both physical and mental. These children often enter the system with significant medical, emotional, and developmental needs due to trauma, neglect, or instability. Medicaid ensures they receive necessary services like therapy, behavioral health support, medication, dental care, and routine medical visits—services that are not optional, but essential for healing and stability.
Without Medicaid, many foster families and caregivers simply wouldn’t have the resources to meet those needs. Cuts to this program would undermine the very foundation of support we promise to children in care—and that’s something we can’t afford to compromise.
Q: Were there any particular moments during your trip that stood out to you as especially powerful or emotional?
A: There were several moments that stayed with me, but one that felt especially powerful was when I shared stories from foster families and youth we’ve worked with—real, personal experiences that put a human face to the policies being debated. I could see the shift in the room when it stopped being about systems and started being about children—about their fears, their resilience, and their basic right to feel safe and supported.
It was also emotional to realize how many lawmakers, especially from California, weren’t yet aware of the insurance crisis threatening our foster care infrastructure. Watching that awareness click into place—and knowing those conversations might be the catalyst for action—was a reminder of why being in the room matters. These children can’t be in the room for themselves, so we have to be.
Q: How did lawmakers respond to your message and the stories you shared from the foster care community?
A: Foster care and child welfare have historically been bipartisan issues, and that spirit of shared concern was reflected in many of the conversations I had. Lawmakers were generally open and willing to listen, and I appreciated the opportunity to bring the voices and stories of the foster care community directly to the table.
That said, I was surprised to find that most of the California representatives I spoke with were not aware of the current insurance crisis threatening our state’s foster care infrastructure. Right now, 68% of foster care agencies in California are at risk of shutting down within the next year due to skyrocketing liability insurance costs. These are the very agencies that care for our most medically fragile youth—those who need the highest levels of support. Raising awareness about this urgent issue was a critical part of this trip, and I’m hopeful that it will lead to meaningful action.
Q: How does this advocacy trip tie into Foster Love’s long-term mission and goals?
A: This advocacy trip is a direct extension of Foster Love’s long-term mission—to improve how children and youth experience foster care across the country. While much of our work is hands-on—creating programs that bring comfort, dignity, and joy to children in care—we know that real, lasting change also requires systemic advocacy.
That’s why this trip to Washington, D.C. mattered. It was about using our platform to elevate the needs of foster families, raise awareness of urgent issues like the insurance crisis, and ensure that policy decisions reflect the realities on the ground. Our goal has always been to build a future where every child in foster care feels safe, supported, and seen—and that future has to be shaped both in communities and in the halls of power.
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We’re grateful to Gianna for sharing her experience and for continuing to advocate at the highest level for children in foster care. Her leadership reminds us that real change begins when we speak up—for policies, protections, and futures that every child deserves. Advocacy around foster care Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs is a key part of that change, ensuring children have access to the healthcare they need to thrive.
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