FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 4, 2019)—Today we take a major step in getting children out of harm’s way and into a safer living environment with the signing of Bill 159-35 into Public Law.
Public Law 35-35, introduced by Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje and Senator Mary Torres, and co-sponsored by all senators in the 35thGuam Legislature, will increase the capacity of the new emergency foster care shelter for more than 12 children. The new 7,000-sq. ft. I Guma Mina’åse’ Sr. Mary Brigid Perez, R.S.M. foster care shelter, is set to be completed by October 2019.
Our efforts with this measure were prompted by the sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl who was living in an abandoned structure in Dededo last year. Any crime against our children and our most vulnerable cannot and should not be ignored. While we work to address the bigger problem of abuse and homelessness with our children, today we take an important step in helping our most vulnerable get into a safer living environment. Thank you to all our stakeholders who worked on this bill and provided crucial input at our series of meetings and roundtables over the past year.
Si Yu’os Ma’åse to Sister Mary Brigid Perez, former First Lady Christine Calvo, the Rigalu Foundation, the Department of Public Health and Social Services for your hard work and vision, and most especially to our foster families for opening their hearts and homes for our children.
Si Yu’os Ma’åse to our women Senators in the previous term, the Guam Homeless Coalition, CPS, GHURA, Guam Housing Corporation, and GPD for leaving no stone unturned in seeking ways to prevent the abuse of homeless children.
