[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 218 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 218
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 17, 2021
Mr. Grassley (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr.
Warnock, Ms. Ernst, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Capito, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Casey, Mr. Brown, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr.
Marshall, Mr. Blunt, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Coons, and Mr.
Young) 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--
(1) to bring foster care issues to the forefront of the national focus;
(2) to highlight the importance of permanency for every child; and
(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 there are approximately 424,000 children living in foster care;
Whereas there were approximately 251,000 youth that entered the foster care
system in 2019, while more than 122,000 youth were awaiting adoption at
the end of 2019;
Whereas more than 86,000 children entered foster care in 2019 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--
(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;
and
(3) are the largest single source of families providing permanent homes
for children leaving foster care to adoption;
Whereas, compared to children in foster care who are placed with nonrelatives,
children in foster care who are placed with relatives have more
stability, including fewer changes in placements, have more positive
perceptions of their placements, are more likely to be placed with their
siblings, and demonstrate fewer behavioral problems;
Whereas some relative caregivers receive less financial assistance and fewer
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 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created additional
challenges for youth and families in the child welfare system, including
delays in permanency, economic hardship, and disruptions in education;
Whereas over 20,000 youth ``aged out'' of foster care in 2019 without a legal
permanent connection to an adult or family;
Whereas children 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 19 months;
Whereas, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 35 percent of children in
foster care experience more than 2 placements while in foster 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 1 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 at least 1 anti-
psychotic medication, and 34 percent of those children are not receiving
adequate treatment planning or medication monitoring;
Whereas, according to a 2018 study, due to heavy caseloads and limited
resources, the average annual turnover rate for child welfare workers is
between 14 percent and 22 percent;
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, 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 that more children are in safe, loving, and
permanent homes;
Whereas Federal legislation over the 3 decades preceding the date of adoption of
this resolution, 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 2021 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 and accomplishments and the 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 2021 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 foster 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, 2021, as National
Foster Parent Appreciation Day;
(9) recognizes National Foster Parent Appreciation Day as
an opportunity--
(A) to recognize the efforts of foster parents to
provide safe and loving care for children in need; and
(B) to 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--
(A) to support vulnerable families;
(B) to invest in prevention and reunification
services;
(C) to promote adoption in cases where
reunification is not in the best interests of the
child;
(D) to adequately serve children brought into the
foster care system; and
(E) to facilitate the successful transition into
adulthood for children that ``age out'' of the foster
care system.
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