[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 168 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 168

   Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise 
 awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system, 
 and encouraging Congress to implement policy to improve the lives of 
                  children in the foster care system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 5, 2015

 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. 
Feinstein, and Mr. Blunt) submitted the following resolution; which was 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise 
 awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system, 
 and encouraging Congress to implement policy to improve the lives of 
                  children in the foster care system.

Whereas National Foster Care Month was established more than 20 years ago--

    (1) to bring foster care issues to the forefront of public 
consciousness;

    (2) to highlight the importance of permanency for every child; and

    (3) to recognize the essential role that foster parents, social 
workers, and advocates have in the lives of children in foster care 
throughout the United States;

Whereas all children deserve a safe, loving, and permanent home;
Whereas the primary goal of the foster care system is to ensure the safety and 
        well-being of children while working to provide a safe, loving, and 
        permanent home for each child;
Whereas approximately 400,000 children are living in foster care;
Whereas nearly 255,000 youth entered the foster care system in 2013, while more 
        than 101,000 youth were eligible for and awaiting adoption at the end of 
        2013;
Whereas children of minority races and ethnicities are more likely to stay in 
        the foster care system for longer periods of time and are less likely to 
        be reunited with their biological families;
Whereas foster parents--

    (1) are the front-line caregivers for children who cannot safely remain 
with their biological parents;

    (2) provide physical care, emotional support, and education advocacy to 
the children in their care; and

    (3) are the largest single source of families providing permanent homes 
for children transitioning from foster care to adoption;

Whereas children in foster care who are placed with relatives, compared to 
        children placed with nonrelatives, have more stability, including 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 foster caregivers;
Whereas children in foster care are 4 times more likely to receive psychotropic 
        medications than children enrolled in Medicaid overall;
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 foster care;
Whereas an increased emphasis on prevention and reunification services is 
        necessary to reduce the number of children who are forced to remain in 
        the foster care system;
Whereas more than 23,000 youth ``age out'' of foster care annually without a 
        legal permanent connection to an adult or family;
Whereas the number of youth who age out of foster care has increased during the 
        past decade;
Whereas foster care is intended to be a temporary placement, but children remain 
        in the foster care system for an average of 2 years;
Whereas children in foster care experience an average of 3 different placements, 
        which often leads to disruption of routines and the need to change 
        schools and move away from siblings, extended families, and familiar 
        surroundings;
Whereas children entering foster care often confront the widespread 
        misperception that children in foster care are disruptive, unruly, and 
        dangerous, even though placement in foster care is based on the actions 
        of a parent or guardian, not the child;
Whereas children who age out of foster care lack the security and support of a 
        biological or adoptive family and frequently struggle to secure 
        affordable housing, obtain health insurance, pursue higher education, 
        and acquire adequate employment;
Whereas States, localities, and communities should be encouraged to invest 
        resources in preventative and reunification services and postpermanency 
        programs to ensure that more children in foster care are provided with 
        safe, loving, and permanent placements;
Whereas Federal legislation during the past 3 decades, including the Adoption 
        Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-272), the 
        Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89), the 
        Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 
        (Public Law 110-351), the Child and Family Services Improvement and 
        Innovation Act (Public Law 112-34), and the Preventing Sex Trafficking 
        and Strengthening Families Act (Public Law 113-183) provided new 
        investments and services to improve the outcomes of children in the 
        foster care system;
Whereas May 2015 is 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, the advocacy community, and 
        mentors for their dedication, accomplishments, and positive impact on 
        the lives of children; and
Whereas much remains to be done to ensure that all children have a safe, loving, 
        nurturing, and permanent family, regardless of age or special needs: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of May 2015 as ``National 
        Foster Care Month'';
            (2) recognizes National Foster Care Month as an opportunity 
        to raise awareness about the challenges that children face in 
        the foster care system;
            (3) encourages Congress to implement policies to improve 
        the lives of children in the foster care system;
            (4) acknowledges the special needs of children in the 
        foster care system;
            (5) recognizes youth in foster care throughout the United 
        States for their ongoing tenacity, courage, and resilience 
        while facing life challenges;
            (6) acknowledges the exceptional alumni of the foster care 
        system who serve as advocates and role models for youth who 
        remain in care;
            (7) honors the commitment and dedication of the individuals 
        who work tirelessly to provide assistance and services to 
        children in the foster care system; and
            (8) reaffirms the need to continue working to improve the 
        outcomes of all children in the foster care system through 
        parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        601 et seq.) and other programs designed--
                    (A) to support vulnerable families;
                    (B) to invest in prevention and reunification 
                services;
                    (C) to promote adoption in cases where 
                reunification is not in the best interests of the 
                child;
                    (D) to adequately serve children brought into the 
                foster care system; and
                    (E) to facilitate the successful transition into 
                adulthood for children who ``age out'' of the foster 
                care system.
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