III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 168 

Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise awareness 

about the challenges of children in the foster care system, and encouraging Congress to implement policy to improve the lives of children 

in the foster care system. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 5, 2015 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. 

FEINSTEIN, and Mr. BLUNT) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity 

to raise awareness about the challenges of children in 

the foster care system, and encouraging Congress to 

implement policy to improve the lives of children in the 

foster care system. 

Whereas National Foster Care Month was established more 

than 20 years ago— 

(1) to bring foster care issues to the forefront of 

public consciousness; 

(2) to highlight the importance of permanency for 

every child; and 


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•SRES 168 IS 

(3) to recognize the essential role that foster parents, social workers, and advocates have in the lives of 

children in foster care throughout the United States; 

Whereas all children deserve a safe, loving, and permanent 

home; 

Whereas the primary goal of the foster care system is to ensure the safety and well-being of children while working 

to provide a safe, loving, and permanent home for each 

child; 

Whereas approximately 400,000 children are living in foster 

care; 

Whereas nearly 255,000 youth entered the foster care system 

in 2013, while more than 101,000 youth were eligible for 

and awaiting adoption at the end of 2013; 

Whereas children of minority races and ethnicities are more 

likely to stay in the foster care system for longer periods 

of time and are less likely to be reunited with their biological families; 

Whereas foster parents— 

(1) are the front-line caregivers for children who 

cannot safely remain with their biological parents; 

(2) provide physical care, emotional support, and 

education advocacy to the children in their care; and 

(3) are the largest single source of families providing 

permanent homes for children transitioning from foster 

care to adoption; 

Whereas children in foster care who are placed with relatives, 

compared to children placed with nonrelatives, have more 

stability, including fewer changes in placements, have 

more positive perceptions of their placements, are more 


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•SRES 168 IS 

likely to be placed with their siblings, and demonstrate 

fewer behavioral problems; 

Whereas some relative caregivers receive less financial assistance and support services than foster caregivers; 

Whereas children in foster care are 4 times more likely to receive psychotropic medications than children enrolled in 

Medicaid overall; 

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 

foster care; 

Whereas an increased emphasis on prevention and reunification services is necessary to reduce the number of children who are forced to remain in the foster care system; 

Whereas more than 23,000 youth ‘‘age out’’ of foster care 

annually without a legal permanent connection to an 

adult or family; 

Whereas the number of youth who age out of foster care has 

increased during the past decade; 

Whereas foster care is intended to be a temporary placement, 

but children remain in the foster care system for an average of 2 years; 

Whereas children in foster care experience an average of 3 

different placements, which often leads to disruption of 

routines and the need to change schools and move away 

from siblings, extended families, and familiar surroundings; 

Whereas children entering foster care often confront the 

widespread misperception that children in foster care are 

disruptive, unruly, and dangerous, even though placement 


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•SRES 168 IS 

in foster care is based on the actions of a parent or 

guardian, not the child; 

Whereas children who age out of foster care lack the security 

and support of a biological or adoptive family and frequently struggle to secure affordable housing, obtain 

health insurance, pursue higher education, and acquire 

adequate employment; 

Whereas States, localities, and communities should be encouraged to invest resources in preventative and reunification 

services and postpermanency programs to ensure that 

more children in foster care are provided with safe, loving, and permanent placements; 

Whereas Federal legislation during the past 3 decades, including the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 

1980 (Public Law 96–272), the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–89), the Fostering 

Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 

2008 (Public Law 110–351), the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Public Law 112– 

34), and the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (Public Law 113–183) provided new 

investments and services to improve the outcomes of children in the foster care system; 

Whereas May 2015 is 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, the advocacy community, and 

mentors for their dedication, accomplishments, and positive impact on the lives of children; and 


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•SRES 168 IS 

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) supports the designation of May 2015 as 

3 ‘‘National Foster Care Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes National Foster Care Month as 

5 an opportunity to raise awareness about the chal6 lenges that children face in the foster care system; 

7 (3) encourages Congress to implement policies 

8 to improve the lives of children in the foster care 

9 system; 

10 (4) acknowledges the special needs of children 

11 in the foster care system; 

12 (5) recognizes youth in foster care throughout 

13 the United States for their ongoing tenacity, cour14 age, and resilience while facing life challenges; 

15 (6) acknowledges the exceptional alumni of the 

16 foster care system who serve as advocates and role 

17 models for youth who remain in care; 

18 (7) honors the commitment and dedication of 

19 the individuals who work tirelessly to provide assist20 ance and services to children in the foster care sys21 tem; and 

22 (8) reaffirms the need to continue working to 

23 improve the outcomes of all children in the foster 


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1 care system through parts B and E of title IV of the 

2 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and 

3 other programs designed— 

4 (A) to support vulnerable families; 

5 (B) to invest in prevention and reunifica6 tion services; 

7 (C) to promote adoption in cases where re8 unification is not in the best interests of the 

9 child; 

10 (D) to adequately serve children brought 

11 into the foster care system; and 

12 (E) to facilitate the successful transition 

13 into adulthood for children who ‘‘age out’’ of 

14 the foster care system. 

Æ 


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