[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 74 (Monday, May 17, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S3834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  SENATE RESOLUTION 533--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

  Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Levin, Mr. 
Cardin, Mr. Begich, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Inhofe, Ms. Collins, Ms. Snowe, Mr. 
Bayh, Mr. Franken, Mr. Akaka, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Nelson 
of Nebraska, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Specter, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. 
Lautenberg) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 533

       Whereas all children deserve a safe, loving, and permanent 
     home;
       Whereas approximately 500,000 children in the United States 
     live in foster care each year;
       Whereas children enter the foster care system for a variety 
     of reasons, including inadequate care, abuse, or neglect by a 
     parent or guardian;
       Whereas the major factors that contribute to the placement 
     of a child in the foster care system include substance abuse, 
     mental illness, poverty, and a lack of education of a parent 
     or guardian of the child;
       Whereas a child entering the foster care system must 
     confront the widespread misperception that children in foster 
     care are disruptive, unruly, and dangerous, even though 
     placement in the foster care system is based on the actions 
     of a parent or guardian, not the child;
       Whereas States and communities should be provided with the 
     resources to invest in preventative and reunification 
     services and post-permanency programs to ensure that more 
     children in the foster care system are provided safe, loving, 
     permanent placements;
       Whereas the foster care system is intended to be a 
     temporary solution, yet children remain in the foster care 
     system for an average of 3 years;
       Whereas children of color are disproportionately 
     represented in the foster care system and are less likely to 
     be reunited with their biological families;
       Whereas the average child in the foster care system--
       (1) is 10 years old; and
       (2) will be placed in 3 different homes, leading to 
     disruptive transfers to new schools, separation from 
     siblings, and unfamiliar surroundings;
       Whereas most children ``age out'' of the foster care system 
     at the age of 18;
       Whereas the number of children who enter the foster care 
     system each year has declined over the decade preceding the 
     date of the agreement to this resolution, but the number of 
     children who ``age out'' of the foster care system without 
     placement with a permanent family has increased 
     substantially, rising from 20,000 children in 2002 to 29,000 
     children in 2008;
       Whereas children who ``age out'' of the foster care system 
     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, of the children who have ``aged out'' of the 
     foster care system--
       (1) 25 percent have been homeless;
       (2) 51 percent have been unemployed for significant stretch 
     of time, and
       (3) only 2 percent have obtained a bachelor's degree or 
     higher;
       Whereas, by age 19, approximately 50 percent of young women 
     who have been in the foster care system have been pregnant, 
     compared to only 20 percent of young women who have been not 
     in the foster care system;
       Whereas research reveals that children born to teen parents 
     are exposed to serious and high risks;
       Whereas National Foster Care Month is an opportunity to 
     raise awareness about the special needs of children in the 
     foster care system and to recognize the important role that 
     foster parents, social workers, and advocates have in the 
     lives of children in foster care throughout the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing 
     Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-351; 122 Stat. 3949) 
     provides for new investments and services to improve the 
     outcomes of children and families in the foster care system; 
     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) recognizes National Foster Care Month as an opportunity 
     to raise awareness about the challenges of children in the 
     foster care system;
       (2) encourages Congress to implement policy to improve the 
     lives of children in the foster care system;
       (3) supports the designation of a ``National Foster Care 
     Month'';
       (4) acknowledges the needs of the children in the foster 
     care system;
       (5) honors the commitment and dedication of those 
     individuals who work tirelessly to provide assistance and 
     services to children in the foster care system; and
       (6) recognizes the need to continue working to improve the 
     outcomes of all children in the foster care system through 
     title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
     and other programs designed to help children in the foster 
     care system--
       (A) reunite with their biological parents; or
       (B) if the children cannot be reunited with their 
     biological parents, find permanent, safe, and loving homes.

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