[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17737]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 566--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE CONCERNING 
THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BEFORE THEY OCCUR 
AND ACHIEVING PERMANENCY AND STABILITY FOR CHILDREN WHO MUST EXPERIENCE 
                              FOSTER CARE

  Mrs. CLINTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 566

       Whereas in 2004, authorities received reports that an 
     estimated 3,000,000 children suffered child abuse or neglect, 
     and the reports of abuse or neglect were substantiated for 
     approximately 872,000 of the children;
       Whereas in 2004, 1,490 children died tragically as a result 
     of abuse;
       Whereas research from the United States Children's Bureau 
     of the Department of Health and Human Services shows that a 
     greater amount of caseworker contact with children and 
     parents results in better outcomes for families;
       Whereas child protective service agencies throughout the 
     country have set goals in order to improve service quality, 
     including the agencies in New York, whose goal is to maintain 
     caseloads at an average of 12 cases per caseworker, with a 
     maximum of 5 new cases per caseworker each month;
       Whereas research on child welfare service staff suggests 
     the need for staff that have formal social work education, 
     especially education obtained through specialized child 
     welfare programs; and
       Whereas research on child welfare service staff has shown a 
     link between a supportive and flexible organizational 
     environment and reduced staff turnover: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) Congress should increase funding to provide for 
     additional child welfare service caseworkers and associated 
     administrative costs;
       (2) Congress should encourage States to set goals for 
     decreasing caseloads of child welfare service caseworkers, in 
     order to ensure quality service for the most vulnerable 
     children; and
       (3) Congress should encourage States to implement policies 
     with increased educational and professional development 
     expectations for caseworkers in child welfare service 
     agencies.

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