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 safe-
ty, 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 Fos-
ter 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 
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parents and provide physical care, emotional support, 
education advocacy, and are the largest single source of 
families providing permanent homes for kids leaving fos-
ter care to adoption; 
Whereas 273,000 children entered the foster care system dur-
ing 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 hous-
ing, 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 reunifica-
tion services is necessary to reduce the number of chil-
dren that are forced to enter the foster care system; 
Whereas Federal legislation over the past three decades, in-
cluding 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; 
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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 men-
tors and the positive impact they have on children’s lives: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of National Foster 
Care Month; 
(2) honors the tireless efforts of those who work 
to improve outcomes for children in the child welfare 
system; 
(3) acknowledges the exceptional alumni of the 
foster care system who serve as advocates and role 
models for youth who remain in care; 
(4) recognizes the significant improvements to 
Federal, State, and local child welfare policy; and 
(5) reaffirms the need to work through the title 
IV programs in the Social Security Act and other 
programs to support vulnerable families, invest in 
prevention and reunification services, promote adop-
tion in cases where reunification is not in a child’s 
best interest, adequately serve those children 
brought into the foster care system, and facilitate 
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the successful transition into adulthood for children 
that ‘‘age out’’ of the foster care system. 
Æ 
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