[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 264 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 264

     Designating September 2017 as ``National Kinship Care Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 19, 2017

   Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Casey, Mr. Kaine, and Ms. 
 Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Designating September 2017 as ``National Kinship Care Month''.

Whereas in September 2017, ``National Kinship Care Month'' is observed;
Whereas nationally 2,700,000 children are living in kinship care with 
        grandparents or other relatives;
Whereas nationally more than 125,000 kinship children in foster care are placed 
        with grandparents or other relatives, with more than 2,570,000 kinship 
        children supported outside of the foster care system;
Whereas grandparents and other relatives are increasingly providing caring homes 
        for children because of the opioid crisis;
Whereas grandparents and relatives residing in urban, rural, and suburban 
        households in every county of the United States have stepped forward out 
        of love and loyalty to care for children during times in which 
        biological parents are unable to do so;
Whereas kinship caregivers provide safety, promote well-being, and establish 
        stable households for vulnerable children;
Whereas kinship care enables a child--

    (1) to maintain family relationships and cultural heritage; and

    (2) to remain in the community of the child;

Whereas kinship care is a national resource that provides loving homes for 
        children at risk;
Whereas kinship caregivers face daunting challenges to keep countless children 
        from entering foster care;
Whereas the Senate is proud to recognize the many kinship care families in which 
        a child is raised by grandparents or other relatives;
Whereas the Senate wishes to honor the many kinship caregivers who throughout 
        the history of the United States have provided loving homes for 
        parentless children;
Whereas National Kinship Care Month provides an opportunity to urge people in 
        every State to join in recognizing and celebrating kinship caregiving 
        families and the tradition of families in the United States to help 
        raise 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) designates September 2017 as ``National Kinship Care 
        Month'';
            (2) encourages Congress to implement policies to improve 
        the lives of vulnerable children and families;
            (3) honors the commitment and dedication of kinship 
        caregivers and the advocates and allies who work tirelessly to 
        provide assistance and services to kinship caregiving families; 
        and
            (4) reaffirms the need to continue working to improve the 
        outcomes of all vulnerable children 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; and
                    (C) to ensure that extended family members who take 
                on the role of kinship caregivers receive the necessary 
                support.
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