Every child deserves to know their history.
Yesterday, a constituent, Melissa Khamkhounnavong, a mother of three who adopted all three of her children through the foster care system with the help of Let It Be Us, came to the Capitol to testify on a bill that began with her family’s experience. She shared how important it is for children and adoptive families to have access to foster care records so they can better understand a child’s story, milestones, and support their healing.
That’s why I filed SB 2895, the Healing Through History Act, that addresses a gap in Illinois law that prevents adoptive families from accessing important parts of a child’s foster care history.
The bill passed committee unanimously with bipartisan support and is now headed to the Senate floor.
Melissa, thank you for your courage, your advocacy, and for helping turn your story into meaningful change for families across Illinois.