S.Res. 737

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 737 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 737

Recognizing National Foster Care Month as an opportunity to raise 
awareness about the challenges of children in the foster care system 
and to encourage Congress to implement policies to improve the lives of 
children in the foster care system.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 14, 2026

Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Daines, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. 
Warner, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Young, 
Mrs. Britt, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Husted) 
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 to encourage 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;

(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 331,747 children living in foster care in the 
United States;
Whereas there were approximately 175,008 youths that entered the foster care 
system in 2025 in the United States, and more than 67,249 youths were 
awaiting adoption at the end of 2025;
Whereas approximately 51,603 children entered foster care in 2025 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 cohort of families that provide permanent homes for children 
leaving through 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 approximately 15,030 youths aged out of foster care in 2025 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 22.9 months;
Whereas approximately \1/3\ of children in foster care experience more than 2 
placements while in care, which often leads to the disruption of 
routines, including changing schools, and moving 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 less than 40 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 23 percent and 60 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 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 4 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), the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening 
Families Act (Public Law 113-183; 128 Stat. 1919), and the Supporting 
America's Children and Families Act (Public Law 118-258; 138 Stat. 2947) 
provided new investments and services to improve the outcomes of 
children in the foster care system;
Whereas May 2026 is an appropriate month to designate as ``National Foster Care 
Month'' and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the child welfare 
workforce, foster parents, the advocacy community, and mentors for their 
dedication, 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 2026 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 youths 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, 2026, 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 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 
initiatives designed--
(A) to support vulnerable families;
(B) to prevent families from entering the foster 
care system and reunite families in cases where 
reunification is in the best interest of the child;
(C) to promote adoption in cases where 
reunification is not in the best interests of the 
child;
(D) to adequately serve those children brought into 
the foster care system; and
(E) to facilitate the successful transition into 
adulthood for youth that age out of the foster care 
system.
<all>