[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2826-S2827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 466--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

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Franken, Mr. Gardner, 
Ms. Heitkamp, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Peters, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
Scott, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 466

       Whereas National Foster Care Month was established more 
     than 20 years ago to--
       (1) bring foster-care issues to the forefront;
       (2) highlight the importance of permanency for every child; 
     and
       (3) 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 415,000 children living in 
     foster care;
       Whereas there were approximately 255,000 youth that entered 
     the foster-care system in 2014, while over 107,500 youth were 
     eligible and awaiting adoption at the end of 2014;
       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 are the front-line caregivers for 
     children who cannot safely remain with their biological 
     parents and provide physical care, emotional support, 
     education advocacy, and are the largest single source of 
     families providing permanent homes for children leaving 
     foster care to adoption;
       Whereas children in foster care who are placed with 
     relatives, compared to children

[[Page S2827]]

     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 do foster caregivers;
       Whereas recent studies show foster children enrolled in 
     Medicaid were prescribed antipsychotic medications at nearly 
     4 times the rate of other children receiving Medicaid;
       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 
     care;
       Whereas an increased emphasis on prevention and 
     reunification services is necessary to reduce the number of 
     children that are forced to remain in the foster-care system;
       Whereas more than 22,000 youth ``age out'' of foster care 
     without a legal permanent connection to an adult or family;
       Whereas the number of youth who age out of foster care has 
     steadily increased for 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 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 on average, 8.5 percent of the positions in child 
     protective services remain vacant;
       Whereas due to heavy caseloads and limited resources, the 
     average tenure for a worker in child protection services is 
     just 3 years;
       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 over 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 2016 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, advocacy community, and mentors 
     for their dedication, accomplishments, and 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 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 policy 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 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 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 to--
       (A) support vulnerable families;
       (B) invest in prevention and reunification services;
       (C) promote adoption in cases where reunification is not in 
     the best interests of the child;
       (D) adequately serve those children brought into the 
     foster-care system; and
       (E) facilitate the successful transition into adulthood for 
     children that ``age out'' of the foster-care system.

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