NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On Capitol Hill Wednesday, county music star Jimmy Wayne shared his personal story with lawmakers in support of the state's foster care program.
Wayne went before lawmakers to push legislators to continue a program that helps foster kids transition into adulthood.
The program is set to
expire in June, but Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has included about $890,000 in
his spending proposal to keep it going.
Wayne was a homeless teenager and believes kicking young adults out of the system doesn't make sense.
Wayne told a state House
committee on Wednesday about being a homeless teen until a couple took him when
he was 16. He credited his foster
parents for making his music career possible by taking him off the streets
after he agreed to cut his hair and attend church.
Wayne walked about 1,700
miles from Nashville to Phoenix in 2010 to raise awareness of at-risk youth in
danger of aging out of the foster care system with no support or resources.
The bill has a good chance of passing; Governor Bill Haslam also supports it.
(The Associated Press Contributed To This Report.)
