IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 41 

Supporting a uniform adoption process for foster youth. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 10, 2017 

Mrs. LAWRENCE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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 

Supporting a uniform adoption process for foster youth. 

Whereas there are over 400,000 children in foster care in the 

United States and 107,000 children waiting to be adopted; 

Whereas the median age for foster children waiting to be 

adopted is 7 years old; 

Whereas the average length of time a child spends in foster 

care is approximately 2 years; 

Whereas domestic adoptions with public child welfare agency 

involvement represent approximately 40 percent of all 

adoptions; 

Whereas families seeking to adopt are expected to undergo a 

home study, which serves to ensure their suitability; 


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•HRES 41 IH 

Whereas the adoption application and content of a home 

study varies from State-to-State, it always involves personal interviews by an adoption case worker, an examination of their home, training related to adoption, and information on their health history and family income; 

Whereas while 4 in 10 people in the United States have considered adoption, but are concerned about the complexity 

and length of time adopting children from foster care; 

Whereas the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization 

of more than 300 lawyers, legislators, judges, and academics who propose legislation to the States in areas subject to State authority, including all aspects of family 

law; 

Whereas after nearly 5 years of drafting, debate, and discussions with adoption and child welfare experts, in August 

1994 the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws approved a proposed Uniform Adoption 

Act for submission to State legislatures; 

Whereas in 2005, the Uniform Laws Commission designated 

the Adoption Act from 1994 as a ‘‘model’’ rather than 

a uniform law keeping State adoption policies varied and 

incongruent; 

Whereas the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children has only been enacted by 9 States and cannot be 

considered nationally in effect until passed by 35 States; 

Whereas there is a need for coordination between the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children, the Interstate Compact for Juveniles, the Interstate Compact on 

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fecting the placement of and which provide services to 

children; 

Whereas the Federal Government should provide for a State’s 

continuing legal jurisdiction and responsibility for placement and care of a child that it would have had if the 

placement were intrastate; and 

Whereas Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have sought to remove barriers to intrastate and 

interstate adoptions and encourage a national standard 

for the adoption process and it has not been acted on legislatively: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports a uniform adoption process of chil3 dren from foster care; and 

4 (2) promotes the enactment by all States of the 

5 Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children to 

6 ensure more children in the United States are placed 

7 in safe, loving, and permanent homes. 

Æ 


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