By Bruce Lesley

With all the big-money lobbyists in D.C., it’s sometimes hard to find a public servant who’s looking out for the little guy. But this year, Washington’s congressman Dave Reichert spent a lot of time and energy looking out for the littlest of us all: children.

Rep. Reichert authored and shepherded through Congress important legislation that will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of children — including more than 6,500 in Washington every year — scarred by abuse or neglect. Foster children and youth have faced trauma most of us cannot imagine and no child should have to endure. Worse yet, they are often victimized again — in too many cases by sex traffickers who see them as easy prey, and more often by a system working so hard to protect their safety that it quietly robs them of their childhood.

Reichert’s bipartisan legislation, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama this fall, offers concrete reforms to help foster children lead safer, more normal childhoods and build better lives. The law requires better data collection on foster children’s vulnerability to sex trafficking. It requires states to develop plans to quickly locate children who run away from foster homes. And it charges an expert panel with analyzing the data and delivering recommendations for federal and state policy reforms to keep kids safe.

The law also recognizes that the strong family and friendship relationships that come with “normal” childhood can make children less vulnerable to traffickers and other safety threats. That’s why Reichert’s law encourages states to prioritize placing siblings together, so escaping abuse or neglect doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to brothers and sisters. And it gives foster parents more flexibility in allowing kids to sign up for sports, clubs, and other age-appropriate activities that support meaningful friendships and give foster children a chance to cultivate their interests and develop their personal strengths.

The law, informed by the experiences of former foster children, also requires states to make common-sense improvements that give foster children a better chance to succeed. Children over the age of 14 must be included in planning for their futures, under the new law. It also requires that, when youth leave foster care, state officials must ensure that they have the documents required for normal adult life – a birth certificate, a Social Security card, health insurance information, medical records, and a driver’s license. No parent would allow a child to leave home without at least those basics.

The law also recognizes that even the best foster home is no substitute for a loving, stable, permanent family home. So it extends federal funding incentives for states successful in increasing the number of children in foster care placed with adoptive parents, and it makes legal guardian placements eligible for incentive funds. And it extends federal funding to help states place children affected by abuse or neglect with grandparents, aunts or uncles, or other trusted adult relatives able and willing to offer a stable, supportive home.

When it comes to child abuse and neglect, there will always be more work to do. We’ve got to strengthen families, so we can prevent abuse or neglect whenever possible. And when abuse or neglect happens, we must take swift but thoughtful actions that give kids the best possible chance to grow up safe and strong and build successful adult lives. We’re not there yet, but thanks to Reichert, we’re closer than we were just a few months ago.

The new year brings new challenges and a new Congress to meet them. But before this year – and this Congress – ends, join us in taking a moment to thank Dave Reichert for his leadership in building a better future for America’s most vulnerable children.

Bruce Lesley is president of First Focus Campaign for Children