[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 466 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 466
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 16, 2016
Mr. Grassley (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Franken, Mr. Gardner, Ms.
Heitkamp, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Peters, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Scott,
Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Blumenthal) 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 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 415,000 children living in foster care;
Whereas there were approximately 255,000 youth that entered the foster-care
system in 2014, while over 107,500 youth were eligible and awaiting
adoption at the end of 2014;
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 provide physical care,
emotional support, 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 nonrelatives, 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 support
services than do foster caregivers;
Whereas recent studies show foster children enrolled in Medicaid were prescribed
antipsychotic medications at nearly 4 times the rate of other children
receiving Medicaid;
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 reunification services is
necessary to reduce the number of children that are forced to remain in
the foster-care system;
Whereas more than 22,000 youth ``age out'' of foster care without a legal
permanent connection to an adult or family;
Whereas the number of youth who age out of foster care has steadily increased
for 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 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 frequently 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 protective 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 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 over 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 2016 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 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 policy to improve the
lives of children in the foster-care system;
(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;
(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; 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 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 children that ``age out'' of the foster-
care system.
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