Expressing support for the designation of September 2021 as "National Kinship Care Month".

This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Kinship Care Month and encourages Congress to work to improve outcomes for kinship caregivers and their families.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 659 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 659

Expressing support for the designation of September 2021 as ``National 
                         Kinship Care Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 20, 2021

Ms. Bass (for herself, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Langevin, Mrs. Lawrence, and Mr. 
 Mullin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of September 2021 as ``National 
                         Kinship Care Month''.

Whereas, in September 2021, ``National Kinship Care Month'' is observed;
Whereas, nationally, 2,800,000 children are living in kinship care with 
        grandparents, other relatives, and family friends (also referred to as 
        ``fictive kin'');
Whereas, nationally, more than 133,405 children in foster care are placed in 
        kinship foster care, with more than 2,667,000 children supported by kin 
        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 other 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--

    (1) to maintain family relationships and cultural heritage; and

    (2) 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 House of Representatives is proud to recognize the many kinship care 
        families in which a child is raised by grandparents or other relatives;
Whereas the House of Representatives 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;
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;
Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, kinship caregivers who are often older 
        grandparents with health vulnerabilities are parenting children in their 
        homes, often without supports;
Whereas, since more that 40 States and the District of Columbia have over 300 
        laws related to kinship caregiving and there are many Federal child 
        welfare laws, it is clear that kinship care is acknowledged as the 
        nationally accepted term for grandparents, relatives, and fictive kin 
        who are caring for children;
Whereas over 40 States are implementing kinship navigator services that support 
        kinship caregivers who are not foster parents; and
Whereas States increasingly rely on kin as foster parents, and are working to 
        increase the percentages of kinship foster care: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Kinship Care 
        Month'';
            (2) encourages the Congress to implement policies to 
        improve the lives of vulnerable children and families;
            (3) 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
            (4) 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--
                    (A) to support vulnerable families;
                    (B) to invest in prevention and reunification 
                services; and
                    (C) to ensure that extended family members who take 
                on the role of kinship caregivers receive the necessary 
                support.
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