IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1339 

Expressing support for designation of May as National Foster Care Month 

and acknowledging the responsibility that Congress has to promote safety, well-being, improved outcomes, and permanency for the Nation’s 

collective children. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 6, 2010 

Mr. MCDERMOTT (for himself and Mr. LINDER) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of May as National Foster Care Month and acknowledging the responsibility that 

Congress has to promote safety, well-being, improved 

outcomes, and permanency for the Nation’s collective 

children. 

Whereas on average, the Nation’s foster care system provides 

for nearly 500,000 children each day who are unable to 

live safely with their biological parents; 

Whereas there is a shortage of foster parents and great need 

for their services, as there are fewer than 3 foster homes 

for every 10 children in care; 

Whereas foster parents are the most frontline caregiver for 

children who cannot safely remain with their biological 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 1339 IH 

parents and provide physical care, emotional support, 

education advocacy, and are the largest single source of 

families providing permanent homes for kids leaving foster care to adoption; 

Whereas 273,000 children entered the foster care system during fiscal year 2008 and an average of 123,000 children 

were waiting to be adopted every day; 

Whereas almost 55,000 children were adopted out of foster 

care in fiscal year 2008, but the number of children 

‘‘aging out’’ of the foster care system without finding a 

permanent family increased to an all-time high of nearly 

30,000 in fiscal year 2008; 

Whereas children ‘‘aging out’’ of foster care need and deserve 

a support system as they work to secure affordable housing, obtain health insurance, pursue higher education, 

and acquire adequate employment; 

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 enter the foster care system; 

Whereas Federal legislation over the past three decades, including the Adoption Assistance and Safe Families Act of 

1980, the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, and 

the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing 

Adoptions Act of 2008, provided new investments and 

services to improve the outcomes of children in the foster 

care system; 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 1339 IH 

Whereas foster children, like all children, deserve no less than 

a safe, loving, and permanent home; and 

Whereas May would be 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 and the positive impact they have on children’s lives: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of National Foster 

3 Care Month; 

4 (2) honors the tireless efforts of those who work 

5 to improve outcomes for children in the child welfare 

6 system; 

7 (3) acknowledges the exceptional alumni of the 

8 foster care system who serve as advocates and role 

9 models for youth who remain in care; 

10 (4) recognizes the significant improvements to 

11 Federal, State, and local child welfare policy; and 

12 (5) reaffirms the need to work through the title 

13 IV programs in the Social Security Act and other 

14 programs to support vulnerable families, invest in 

15 prevention and reunification services, promote adop16 tion in cases where reunification is not in a child’s 

17 best interest, adequately serve those children 

18 brought into the foster care system, and facilitate 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 1339 IH 

1 the successful transition into adulthood for children 

2 that ‘‘age out’’ of the foster care system. 

Æ 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with BILLS