IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 659 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 16, 2012 Ms. Bass of California (for herself, Mr. Andrews, Mrs. Bachmann, Mr. Bartlett, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mrs. Black, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Braley of Iowa, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Carnahan, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Clarke of Michigan, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Costa, Mr. Costello, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Critz, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. DeGette, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Gutierrez, Ms. Hahn, Ms. Hanabusa, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Holden, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Huelskamp, Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Latham, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Marino, Mr. Markey, Ms. Matsui, Mrs. McCarthy of New York, Ms. McCollum, Mr. McDermott, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Moore, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Nunnelee, Mr. Olver, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Peters, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Platts, Mr. Polis, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Richardson, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Schilling, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Stark, Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Tsongas, Mr. Walz of Minnesota, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Woolsey, and Mr. Yarmuth) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means RESOLUTION Recognizing the goals and ideals of National Foster Care Month.

Whereas the Nation's foster care system provides for approximately 408,000 children each day who are unable to live safely with their biological parents due to abuse and neglect; Whereas we all have a legal and moral responsibility to provide the best care possible for children when they cannot remain in their homes; Whereas foster children, like all children, deserve no less than a safe, loving, and permanent home; Whereas there were approximately 254,000 youth that entered the foster care system in 2010 while over 107,000 youth were eligible and awaiting adoption at the end of 2010; Whereas, in fiscal year 2010, almost 53,000 children were adopted out of foster care while the number of those who aged out of the foster care system without finding a permanent family was over 27,900; Whereas foster parents are the frontline caregivers 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 children leaving foster care to adoption; Whereas children in foster care who are placed with relatives, compared to children placed with non-relatives, have more stability (fewer changes in placements), have more positive perceptions of their placements, are more likely to be placed with their siblings, and demonstrate fewer behavioral problems; Whereas some relative caregivers receive less financial assistance and support services than do foster caregivers; Whereas recent studies show foster children enrolled in Medicaid were prescribed antipsychotic medications at nearly 9 times the rate of other children receiving Medicaid; Whereas children 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 remain in the foster care system; 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 Federal legislation over the past 3 decades, including the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, and the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act of 2011 provided new investments and services to improve the outcomes of children in the foster care system; Whereas State and local governments, and other child serving agencies, have also invested in child welfare service improvements in order to provide stable, permanent homes for children; Whereas more work and investments are needed to provide the necessary array of services to these children; 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

That the House of Representatives— (1)supports the goals and ideals of National Foster Care Month; (2)recognizes foster children throughout the Nation for their ongoing tenacity, courage, and resilience while facing life challenges; (3)honors the tireless efforts of those who work to improve outcomes for children in the child welfare system; (4)acknowledges the exceptional alumni of the foster care system who serve as advocates and role models for children who remain in care; (5)recognizes the significant improvements to Federal, State, and local child welfare policy; and (6)reaffirms the need to work through the programs provided under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act, and through 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.