•HRES 340 IH 
Whereas children entering foster care often confront the 
widespread misperception that children in foster care are 
disruptive, unruly, and dangerous, even though placement 
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 
or support of a biological or adoptive family and fre-
quently struggle to secure affordable housing, obtain 
health insurance, pursue higher education, and acquire 
adequate employment; 
Whereas on average, 8.5 percent of the positions in child pro-
tective services remain vacant; 
Whereas due to heavy caseloads and limited resources, the 
average tenure for a worker in child protection services 
is just 3 years; 
Whereas States, localities, and communities should be encour-
aged to invest resources in preventative and reunification 
services and postpermanency programs to ensure that 
more children in foster care are provided with safe, lov-
ing, and permanent placements; 
Whereas Federal legislation over the past 3 decades, includ-
ing the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 
1980 (Public Law 96–272), the Adoption and Safe Fami-
lies 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 Serv-
ices Improvement and Innovation Act (Public Law 112– 
34), the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening 
Families Act (Public Law 113–183), and title VII of divi-
sion E of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, also known 
as the Family First Prevention Services Act (Public Law 
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•HRES 340 IH 
115–123), provided new investments and services to im-
prove the outcomes of children in the foster care system; 
Whereas May 2019 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, advocacy community, and men-
tors for their dedication, accomplishments, and positive 
impact they have on the lives of children; and 
Whereas much remains to be done to ensure that all children 
have a safe, loving, nurturing, and permanent family, re-
gardless of age or special needs: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of National Foster 
Care Month; 
(2) recognizes National Foster Care Month as 
an opportunity to raise awareness about the chal-
lenges that children face in the foster care system; 
(3) encourages Congress to implement policy to 
improve the lives of children in the foster care sys-
tem; 
(4) acknowledges the special needs of children 
in the foster care system; 
(5) recognizes foster youth throughout the 
United States for their ongoing tenacity, courage, 
and resilience while facing life challenges; 
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(6) acknowledges the exceptional alumni of the 
foster care system who serve as advocates and role 
models for youth who remain in care; 
(7) honors the commitment and dedication of 
the individuals who work tirelessly to provide assist-
ance and services to children in the foster care sys-
tem; and 
(8) reaffirms the need to continue working to 
improve the outcomes of all children in the foster 
care system through parts B and E of title IV of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and 
other programs designed to— 
(A) support vulnerable families; 
(B) invest in prevention and reunification 
services; 
(C) promote adoption in cases where reuni-
fication is not in the best interests of the child; 
(D) 
adequately 
serve 
those 
children 
brought into the foster care system; and 
(E) facilitate the successful transition into 
adulthood for children that ‘‘age out’’ of the 
foster care system. 
Æ 
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