IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 693 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 19, 2012 Ms. Moore (for herself, Ms. Bass of California, Mr. Conyers, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Clarke of Michigan, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Stark, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Norton, and Ms. Woolsey) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means RESOLUTION Expressing support for designation of June as National Family Reunification Month.

Whereas reunification with family is the preferred outcome for children removed from their homes and placed in foster care; Whereas reunification with their family is the best option for a permanent and loving home for most children in foster care; Whereas it is necessary to emphasize the importance of prevention and reunification services in order to reduce the number of children that are forced to remain in the foster care system; Whereas every year, hundreds of thousands of children are successfully reunified with their families; Whereas all children need the care, love, security, and stability of family unity, including parents, siblings, grandparents, and other extended family members to provide a solid foundation for personal growth, development, and maturity; Whereas for many years a number of jurisdictions in the United States have been celebrating the accomplishments of families who have overcome an array of challenges to reunify safely and successfully and others are starting this practice now; Whereas Federal legislation over the past three decades has provided new contributions and services to advance the outcomes of children in the foster care system, including the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, and the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008; Whereas child-serving agencies, along with State and local governments, have worked to advance child welfare services in order to provide a stable, permanent return to their homes for children; Whereas further efforts and investments are needed to provide and expand the necessary array of services to these children and families; Whereas reunification takes work, commitment, and investment of time and resources by parents, family members, social workers, foster parents, service providers, attorneys, courts, and the community; and Whereas June would be an appropriate month to designate as National Reunification Month to provide an opportunity to acknowledge the accomplishments of the child welfare workforce, parents, 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 designation of National Reunification Month; (2)honors the unwavering efforts of those who work to advance outcomes for children in the child welfare system; (3)encourages child welfare agencies, courts, schools, businesses, media, religious institutions, and civic and service organizations to recognize National Reunification Month; (4)recognizes that substantial progress has been made by Federal, State, tribal, and local child welfare policymakers; and (5)reaffirms the importance of Title IV–B and IV–E of the Social Security Act and other programs that provide support to vulnerable families, and invest in prevention and reunification services.