III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 266 

Designating September 2015 as ‘‘National Kinship Care Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 

Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. HATCH, Mr. PETERS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. 

KAINE, Ms. AYOTTE, Mr. SCHUMER, Ms. BALDWIN, and Mr. CASEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

the Judiciary 

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 2015 as ‘‘National Kinship Care 

Month’’. 

Whereas in September 2015, ‘‘National Kinship Care Month’’ 

is observed; 

Whereas nationally 2,700,000 children are living in kinship 

care with grandparents or other relatives; 

Whereas grandparents and relatives residing in urban, rural, 

and suburban households in every county of the United 

States have stepped forward out of love and loyalty to 

care for children during times in which biological parents 

are unable to do so; 


smartinez on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
2 

SRES 266 ATS 

Whereas kinship caregivers provide safety, promote wellbeing, and establish stable households for vulnerable children; 

Whereas kinship care enables a child— 

(1) to maintain family relationships and cultural 

heritage; and 

(2) to remain in the community of the child; 

Whereas kinship care is a national resource that provides loving homes for children at risk; 

Whereas kinship caregivers face daunting challenges to keep 

countless children from entering foster care; 

Whereas the Senate is proud to recognize the many kinship 

care families in which a child is raised by grandparents 

or other relatives; 

Whereas the Senate wishes to honor the many kinship caregivers who throughout the history of the United States 

have provided loving homes for parentless children; 

Whereas National Kinship Care Month provides an opportunity to urge people in every State to join in recognizing 

and celebrating kinship caregiving families and the tradition of families in the United States to help raise children; and 

Whereas much remains to be done to ensure that all children 

have a safe, loving, nurturing, and permanent family, regardless of age or special needs: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 2015 as ‘‘National 

3 Kinship Care Month’’; 


smartinez on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS
3 

SRES 266 ATS 

1 (2) encourages Congress to implement policies 

2 to improve the lives of vulnerable children and fami3 lies; 

4 (3) honors the commitment and dedication of 

5 kinship caregivers and the advocates and allies who 

6 work tirelessly to provide assistance and services to 

7 kinship caregiving families; and 

8 (4) reaffirms the need to continue working to 

9 improve the outcomes of all vulnerable children 

10 through parts B and E of title IV of the Social Se11 curity Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), and other pro12 grams designed— 

13 (A) to support vulnerable families; 

14 (B) to invest in prevention and reunifica15 tion services; and 

16 (C) to ensure that extended family mem17 bers who take on the role of kinship caregivers 

18 receive the necessary support. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSK9F6TC42PROD with BILLS