IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 263 

Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity for Congress 

to improve the foster care system throughout the United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 23, 2007 

Mr. CARDOZA submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the 

Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity 

for Congress to improve the foster care system throughout the United States. 

Whereas National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to recognize the important role that the foster care 

system plays in the lives of the more than 500,000 children currently in foster care programs throughout the 

United States; 

Whereas National Foster Care Month also provides an opportunity to explore the difficulties faced by children in the 

foster care system and to reaffirm the Nation’s commitment to improving the lives of these children by improving foster care programs; 


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Whereas many children in the foster care system have spent 

multiple years in foster care programs and have experienced an unstable home life due to frequent moves from 

one foster home to another; 

Whereas approximately 50 percent of foster care children 

have been placed in foster care programs for longer than 

1 year; 

Whereas 25 percent of foster care children have been placed 

in foster care programs for at least 3 years; 

Whereas children in foster care programs for longer periods 

of time often experience worse outcomes than children in 

foster care programs for shorter periods of time; 

Whereas children in foster care programs are more likely 

than the general population to become teen parents, to 

rely on public assistance as adults, to become homeless, 

and to experience mental health disorders at a higher 

rate; 

Whereas repeated studies have shown that a child’s very early 

years are critical for brain development, meaning that it 

is extremely important to find suitable permanent homes 

for children during this critical period; 

Whereas less than half of the children in foster care programs who are available for adoption each year are 

adopted; 

Whereas there are 119,000 children eligible for adoption 

every year who do not get adopted; 

Whereas a stable home is critical to a child’s development; 

and 

Whereas every child deserves to be raised by a loving family: 

Now, therefore, be it 


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1 Resolved, That in recognition of National Foster Care 

2 Month and in order to improve the foster care system 

3 throughout the United States, it is the sense of the House 

4 of Representatives that Congress should take the following 

5 actions: 

6 (1) Provide Federal adoption assistance to chil7 dren adopted from the foster care system, including 

8 guardianship assistance. 

9 (2) Provide sufficient funds to States and units 

10 of local government to ensure that all levels of gov11 ernment are protecting foster children, including by 

12 hiring enough skilled caseworkers to track the 

13 progress of every child in the foster care system. 

14 (3) Provide sufficient funds for State and local 

15 court systems to improve oversight of foster care 

16 programs and to protect children in their jurisdic17 tion by— 

18 (A) creating more meaningful opportuni19 ties for children and parents to participate in 

20 court proceedings, including the provision of a 

21 Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for 

22 every child in the foster care system; 

23 (B) training court personnel alone and in 

24 conjunction with child welfare agency staff and 


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1 others involved in protecting and caring for 

2 children; and 

3 (C) collaborating with child welfare agen4 cies to collect and share all relevant data and 

5 information that will assist appropriate govern6 ment officials in making better decisions lead7 ing to more positive outcomes for children in 

8 foster care programs. 

9 (4) Increase the quantity of qualified attorneys 

10 who practice before courts with jurisdiction over 

11 children in foster care by— 

12 (A) requiring that States adopt standards 

13 of practice, preparation, education, and com14 pensation for these attorneys; 

15 (B) supporting student loan forgiveness 

16 programs and other efforts to encourage quali17 fied attorneys to practice in this area; and 

18 (C) encouraging law schools, bar associa19 tions, and law firms to build a pool of qualified 

20 attorneys to practice in this area. 

21 (5) Ensure that improving the foster care sys22 tem remains a top priority for both Congress and 

23 the Nation. 

Æ 


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