[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 218 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 218

   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 policies to improve the lives of 
                  children in the foster care system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2021

Mr. Grassley (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
Warnock, Ms. Ernst, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Capito, Ms. 
   Klobuchar, Mr. Casey, Mr. Brown, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. 
 Marshall, Mr. Blunt, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Coons, and Mr. 
  Young) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 policies to improve the lives of 
                  children in the foster care system.

Whereas National Foster Care Month was established more than 30 years ago--

    (1) to bring foster care issues to the forefront of the national focus;

    (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 there are approximately 424,000 children living in foster care;
Whereas there were approximately 251,000 youth that entered the foster care 
        system in 2019, while more than 122,000 youth were awaiting adoption at 
        the end of 2019;
Whereas more than 86,000 children entered foster care in 2019 due to parental 
        drug abuse;
Whereas children of color 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; 
and

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

Whereas, compared to children in foster care who are placed with nonrelatives, 
        children in foster care who are placed with relatives 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 fewer 
        support services than do foster caregivers;
Whereas an increased emphasis on prevention and reunification services is 
        necessary to reduce the number of children that enter or re-enter the 
        foster care system;
Whereas the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created additional 
        challenges for youth and families in the child welfare system, including 
        delays in permanency, economic hardship, and disruptions in education;
Whereas over 20,000 youth ``aged out'' of foster care in 2019 without a legal 
        permanent connection to an adult or family;
Whereas children who age out of foster care lack the security or 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 foster care is intended to be a temporary placement, but children remain 
        in the foster care system for an average of 19 months;
Whereas, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 35 percent of children in 
        foster care experience more than 2 placements while in foster care, 
        which often leads to disruption of routines and the need to change 
        schools and move away from siblings, extended families, and familiar 
        surroundings;
Whereas youth in foster care are much more likely to face educational 
        instability, with 1 study showing that 75 percent of foster youth 
        experienced an unscheduled school change during a school year, compared 
        to 21 percent of youth not in foster care;
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 30 percent of children in foster care are taking at least 1 anti-
        psychotic medication, and 34 percent of those children are not receiving 
        adequate treatment planning or medication monitoring;
Whereas, according to a 2018 study, due to heavy caseloads and limited 
        resources, the average annual turnover rate for child welfare workers is 
        between 14 percent and 22 percent;
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, in 2018, Congress passed the Family First Prevention Services Act 
        (Public Law 115-123; 132 Stat. 232), which provided new investments in 
        prevention and family reunification services to help more families stay 
        together and ensure that more children are in safe, loving, and 
        permanent homes;
Whereas Federal legislation over the 3 decades preceding the date of adoption of 
        this resolution, including the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act 
        of 1980 (Public Law 96-272; 94 Stat. 500), the Adoption and Safe 
        Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89; 111 Stat. 2115), the Fostering 
        Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law 
        110-351; 122 Stat. 3949), the Child and Family Services Improvement and 
        Innovation Act (Public Law 112-34; 125 Stat. 369), and the Preventing 
        Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (Public Law 113-183; 128 
        Stat. 1919), provided new investments and services to improve the 
        outcomes of children in the foster care system;
Whereas May 2021 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 and accomplishments and the positive impact 
        they have 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 2021 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 unique needs of children in the foster 
        care system;
            (5) recognizes foster youth 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 foster 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;
            (8) supports the designation of May 31, 2021, as National 
        Foster Parent Appreciation Day;
            (9) recognizes National Foster Parent Appreciation Day as 
        an opportunity--
                    (A) to recognize the efforts of foster parents to 
                provide safe and loving care for children in need; and
                    (B) to raise awareness about the increasing need 
                for foster parents to serve in their communities; and
            (10) 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 that ``age out'' of the foster 
                care system.
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