[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1339 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1339

Expressing support for designation of May as National Foster Care Month 
   and acknowledging the responsibility that Congress has to promote 
safety, well-being, improved outcomes, and permanency for the Nation's 
                          collective children.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2010

  Mr. McDermott (for himself and Mr. Linder) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for designation of May as National Foster Care Month 
   and acknowledging the responsibility that Congress has to promote 
safety, well-being, improved outcomes, and permanency for the Nation's 
                          collective children.

Whereas on average, the Nation's foster care system provides for nearly 500,000 
        children each day who are unable to live safely with their biological 
        parents;
Whereas there is a shortage of foster parents and great need for their services, 
        as there are fewer than 3 foster homes for every 10 children in care;
Whereas foster parents are the most frontline caregiver for children who cannot 
        safely remain with their biological parents and provide physical care, 
        emotional support, education advocacy, and are the largest single source 
        of families providing permanent homes for kids leaving foster care to 
        adoption;
Whereas 273,000 children entered the foster care system during fiscal year 2008 
        and an average of 123,000 children were waiting to be adopted every day;
Whereas almost 55,000 children were adopted out of foster care in fiscal year 
        2008, but the number of children ``aging out'' of the foster care system 
        without finding a permanent family increased to an all-time high of 
        nearly 30,000 in fiscal year 2008;
Whereas children ``aging out'' of foster care need and deserve a support system 
        as they work to secure affordable housing, obtain health insurance, 
        pursue higher education, and acquire adequate employment;
Whereas youth in foster care are much more likely to face educational 
        instability with 65 percent of former foster children experiencing at 
        least 7 school changes while in care;
Whereas an increased emphasis on prevention and reunification services is 
        necessary to reduce the number of children that are forced to enter the 
        foster care system;
Whereas Federal legislation over the past three decades, including the Adoption 
        Assistance and Safe Families Act of 1980, the Adoption and Safe Families 
        Act of 1997, and the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing 
        Adoptions Act of 2008, provided new investments and services to improve 
        the outcomes of children in the foster care system;
Whereas foster children, like all children, deserve no less than a safe, loving, 
        and permanent home; and
Whereas May would be an appropriate month to designate as National Foster Care 
        Month to provide an opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments of 
        the child welfare workforce, foster parents, advocacy community, and 
        mentors and the positive impact they have on children's lives: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of National Foster Care Month;
            (2) honors the tireless efforts of those who work to 
        improve outcomes for children in the child welfare system;
            (3) acknowledges the exceptional alumni of the foster care 
        system who serve as advocates and role models for youth who 
        remain in care;
            (4) recognizes the significant improvements to Federal, 
        State, and local child welfare policy; and
            (5) reaffirms the need to work through the title IV 
        programs in the Social Security Act and other programs to 
        support vulnerable families, invest in prevention and 
        reunification services, promote adoption in cases where 
        reunification is not in a child's best interest, adequately 
        serve those children brought into the foster care system, and 
        facilitate the successful transition into adulthood for 
        children that ``age out'' of the foster care system.
                                 <all>