[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5842]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING ``OUR KIDS OF MIAMI-DADE AND MONROE''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize the vital 
work of an important south Florida organization called ``Our Kids of 
Miami-Dade and Monroe.''
  Since the year 2005, ``Our Kids'' has worked to ensure that at-risk, 
abused, abandoned and neglected children are afforded the opportunity 
to grow up in safe, permanent families.
  As a grandmother and a former educator, I recognize the great 
opportunity that ``Our Kids'' has to fully support at-risk children.
  Under the leadership of CEO Frances Allegra and Board Chairman Carlos 
de la Cruz, Jr., ``Our Kids'' has risen to the challenge and given 
direction to our local child protection system. Since 2005, ``Our 
Kids'' has created over 1,600 families through child-focused, family-
centered adoptions. It has created an environment of seamless, 
cohesive, and comprehensive service that has led to a 15 percent 
increase in children who are adopted within 24 months of entering 
foster care. That means that today there are 36 percent fewer children 
in foster care in Miami and in the Florida Keys. This is a remarkable 
achievement in such a short time frame, and I applaud the progress.
  There are too many children left to grow up without a strong family 
support system upon which they can rely. And sadly, it is more often 
than not those children who are most in need who are left to fend for 
themselves. Children who have experienced abuse and neglect are 
exceptionally vulnerable.
  The safety and the development of our children must be our highest 
priority. We must ensure that all children have the chance, through 
guidance and support, to confidently build their lives, their families, 
their relationships. By matching kids to permanent, loving homes, or 
with caring foster parents, ``Our Kids'' is working to accomplish this 
worthy goal. ``Our Kids'' makes our community stronger and more 
supportive each and every day.
  The men and women of ``Our Kids'' are selfless in their efforts to 
improve the lives of all of our children in South Florida. Every child 
ought to have a loving home, and it is our responsibility as a 
community and a Nation, to guarantee that no child is left alone.
  On behalf of parents everywhere, Mr. Speaker, I again thank ``Our 
Kids of Miami-Dade and Monroe'' and look forward to all of their future 
accomplishments on behalf of all of our children.

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