Title: A 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 policies to improve the lives of children in the foster care system.
Policy area: Families

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Foster Care Month.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 634 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 634

   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 policies to improve the lives of 
                  children in the foster care system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 16, 2022

 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Brown, Ms. Hassan, Mrs. 
    Capito, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Lujan, Mr. 
Manchin, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Boozman, 
   Ms. Ernst, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Young, Mr. 
    Tillis, Mr. Cornyn, and Mrs. Blackburn) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 policies to improve the lives of 
                  children in the foster care system.

Whereas National Foster Care Month was established more than 30 years ago to--

    (1) bring foster care issues to the forefront;

    (2) highlight the importance of permanency for every child; and

    (3) 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 there are approximately 407,000 children living in foster care in the 
        United States;
Whereas there were approximately 216,000 youths that entered the foster care 
        system in 2020 in the United States, while more than 117,000 youths were 
        awaiting adoption at the end of 2020;
Whereas more than 75,000 children entered foster care in 2020 due to parental 
        drug abuse;
Whereas children of color 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 are the front-line caregivers for children who cannot 
        safely remain with their biological parents, and foster parents provide 
        physical care, emotional support, and education advocacy, and are the 
        largest single source of families providing permanent homes for children 
        leaving foster care to adoption;
Whereas children in foster care who are placed with relatives, compared to 
        children placed with non-relatives--

    (1) have more stability, including fewer changes in placements;

    (2) have more positive perceptions of their placements;

    (3) are more likely to be placed with their siblings; and

    (4) demonstrate fewer behavioral problems;

Whereas some relative caregivers receive less financial assistance and support 
        services than do foster caregivers;
Whereas an increased emphasis on prevention and reunification services is 
        necessary to reduce the number of children that enter or re-enter the 
        foster care system;
Whereas the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic created additional challenges for 
        youth and families in the child welfare system, including delays in 
        permanency, economic hardship, and disruptions in education;
Whereas more than 20,000 youths aged out of foster care in 2020 without a legal 
        permanent connection to an adult or family;
Whereas youth who age out of foster care lack the security or 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 foster care is intended to be a temporary placement, but children remain 
        in the foster care system for an average of 21 months;
Whereas 35 percent of children in foster care experience more than 2 placements 
        while in care, which often leads to disruption of routines and the need 
        to change schools and move away from siblings, extended families, and 
        familiar surroundings;
Whereas youth in foster care are much more likely to face educational 
        instability with a study showing that 75 percent of foster youth 
        experienced an unscheduled school change during a school year, compared 
        to 21 percent of youth not in foster care;
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 30 percent of children in foster care are taking not less than 1 anti-
        psychotic medication, and 34 percent of those children are not receiving 
        adequate treatment planning or medication monitoring;
Whereas, due to heavy caseloads and limited resources, the average annual 
        turnover rate is between 14 percent and 22 percent for child welfare 
        workers;
Whereas States, localities, and communities should be encouraged to invest 
        resources in preventative and reunification services and post-permanency 
        programs to ensure that more children and older youth in foster care are 
        provided with safe, loving, and permanent placements;
Whereas, in 2018, Congress passed the Family First Prevention Services Act 
        (Public Law 115-123; 132 Stat. 232), which provided new investments in 
        prevention and family reunification services to help more families stay 
        together and ensure more children are in safe, loving, and permanent 
        homes;
Whereas Federal legislation during the past 3 decades, including the Adoption 
        Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-272; 94 Stat. 
        500), the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89; 111 
        Stat. 2115), the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing 
        Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-351; 122 Stat. 3949), the Child 
        and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Public Law 112-34; 
        125 Stat. 369), and the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening 
        Families Act (Public Law 113-183; 128 Stat. 1919) provided new 
        investments and services to improve the outcomes of children in the 
        foster care system;
Whereas May 2022 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 
        mentors 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, regardless of age or special needs: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of May 2022 as National Foster 
        Care Month;
            (2) recognizes National Foster Care Month as an opportunity 
        to raise awareness about the challenges that children face in 
        the foster care system;
            (3) encourages Congress to implement policies to improve 
        the lives of children in the foster care system;
            (4) acknowledges the unique 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;
            (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 assistance and services to 
        children in the foster care system;
            (8) supports the designation of May 31, 2022, as National 
        Foster Parent Appreciation Day;
            (9) recognizes National Foster Parent Appreciation Day as 
        an opportunity to recognize the efforts of foster parents to 
        provide safe and loving care for children in need and raise 
        awareness about the increasing need for foster parents to serve 
        in their communities; and
            (10) 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 reunification 
                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 youth that ``age out'' of the foster care 
                system.
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