III
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 264
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 19, 2017
Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Casey, Mr. Kaine, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
RESOLUTION
Designating September 2017 as National Kinship Care Month
.
Whereas in September 2017, National Kinship Care Month
is observed;
Whereas nationally 2,700,000 children are living in kinship care with grandparents or other relatives;
Whereas nationally more than 125,000 kinship children in foster care are placed with grandparents or other relatives, with more than 2,570,000 kinship children supported outside of the foster care system;
Whereas grandparents and other relatives are increasingly providing caring homes for children because of the opioid crisis;
Whereas grandparents and relatives residing in urban, rural, and suburban households in every county of the United States have stepped forward out of love and loyalty to care for children during times in which biological parents are unable to do so;
Whereas kinship caregivers provide safety, promote well-being, and establish stable households for vulnerable children;
Whereas kinship care enables a child—
to maintain family relationships and cultural heritage; and
to remain in the community of the child;
Whereas kinship care is a national resource that provides loving homes for children at risk;
Whereas kinship caregivers face daunting challenges to keep countless children from entering foster care;
Whereas the Senate is proud to recognize the many kinship care families in which a child is raised by grandparents or other relatives;
Whereas the Senate wishes to honor the many kinship caregivers who throughout the history of the United States have provided loving homes for parentless children;
Whereas National Kinship Care Month provides an opportunity to urge people in every State to join in recognizing and celebrating kinship caregiving families and the tradition of families in the United States to help raise 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
That the Senate—
designates September 2017 as National Kinship Care Month
;
encourages Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families;
honors the commitment and dedication of kinship caregivers and the advocates and allies who work tirelessly to provide assistance and services to kinship caregiving families; and
reaffirms the need to continue working to improve the outcomes of all vulnerable children 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 support vulnerable families;
to invest in prevention and reunification services; and
to ensure that extended family members who take on the role of kinship caregivers receive the necessary support.