,,iv #aaf? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #cdj ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,may #a1 #bjai,ms4 ,bass 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,mull91 ,mr4 ,danny ,k4 ,davis ( ,ill9ois1 ,ms4 ,del,bene1 ,mr4 ,langev91 ,mr4 ,kildee1 ,ms4 ,cl>ke ( ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,t$ ,lieu ( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,s]rano1 ,mr4 ,wittman1 ,mr4 ,l[5?al1 ,mr4 ,coh51 ,mr4 ,br[n ( ,m>yl&1 ,ms4 ,jayapal1 ,mrs4 ,dem+s1 ,ms4 ,wass]man ,s*ultz1 ,ms4 ,lee ( ,cali=nia1 ,ms4 ,frankel1 ,mr4 ,cicill9e1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,bacon1 ,ms4 ,ca/or ( ,florida1 ,ms4 ,kelly ( ,ill9ois1 ,ms4 ,roybal-,all>d1 ,mrs4 ,lawr5ce1 ,mr4 ,deut*1 ,mr4 ,espaillat1 ,mr4 ,s*iff1 ,ms4 ,s*ak[sky1 ,mr4 ,mit*ell1 ,mr4 ,crd5as1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,ms4 ,br[nley ( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,?ompson ( ,cali=nia1 ,ms4 ,sn*ez1 ,mr4 ,ha/+s1 ,mr4 ,johnson ( ,georgia1 ,ms4 ,wilson ( ,florida1 ,ms4 ,sewell ( ,alabama1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,mrs4 ,d+ell1 ,mrs4 ,h>tzl]1 ,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney ( ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,y>mu?1 ,mr4 ,hill ( ,arkansas1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,ms4 ,adams1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 ,ms4 ,moore1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,miss ,rice ( ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,cl>k ( ,massa*usetts1 & ,mr4 ,ru%7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,ways & ,means ,,resolution ,recogniz+ ,national ,fo/] ,c>e ,mon? z an opportunity to raise aw>5ess ab\t ! *all5ges ( *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em1 & enc\rag+ ,congress to implem5t policy to improve ! lives ( *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em4 ,:]eas ,national ,fo/] ,c>e ,mon? 0 e/abli%$ m ?an #bj ye>s ago to-- 7#a7 br+ fo/] c>e issues to ! =efront2 7#b7 highlight ! importance ( p]man5cy = e *ild2 & 7#c7 recognize ! ess5tial role t fo/] p>5ts1 social work]s1 & advocates h 9 ! lives ( *ildr5 9 fo/] c>e ?r\gh\t ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas all *ildr5 des]ve a safe1 lov+1 & p]man5t home2 ,:]eas ! prim>y goal ( ! fo/] c>e sy/em is to ensure ! safety & well-be+ ( *ildr5 :ile work+ to provide a safe1 lov+1 & p]man5t home = ea* *ild2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjag1 !re 7 approximately #ddc1jjj *ildr5 liv+ 9 fo/] c>e2 ,:]eas !re 7 approximately #bfi1fij y\? t ent]$ ! fo/] c>e sy/em 9 #bjag1 :ile ov] #aag1gid y\? 7 eligible & await+ adoption at ! end ( #bjag2 ,:]eas *ildr5 ( color are m likely to /ay 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em = long] p]iods ( "t & are less likely to be reunit$ ) _! biological families2 ,:]eas fo/] p>5ts are ! front-l9e c>egiv]s = *ildr5 :o _c safely rema9 ) _! biological p>5ts & provide physical c>e1 emotional support1 education advocacy1 & are ! l>ge/ s+le s\rce ( families provid+ p]man5t homes = *ildr5 leav+ fo/] c>e to adoption2 ,:]eas *ildr5 9 fo/] c>e :o are plac$ ) relatives1 comp>$ to *ildr5 plac$ ) nonrelatives1 h m /ability1 includ+ few] *anges 9 placem5ts1 h m positive p]ceptions ( _! placem5ts1 are m likely to be plac$ ) _! sibl+s1 & demon/rate few] behavioral problems2 ,:]eas "s relative c>egiv]s receive less f9ancial assi/ance & support s]vices ?an d fo/] c>egiv]s2 ,:]eas rec5t /udies %[ fo/] *ildr5 enroll$ 9 ,m$icaid 7 prescrib$ antipsy*otic m$ications at ne>ly #d times ! rate ( o!r *ildr5 receiv+ ,m$icaid2 ,:]eas y\? 9 fo/] c>e are mu* m likely to face educational in/ability ) #fe p]c5t ( =m] fo/] *ildr5 exp]i5c+ at lea/ #g s*ool *anges :ile 9 c>e2 ,:]eas an increas$ emphasis on prev5tion & reunification s]vices is necess>y to r$uce ! numb] ( *ildr5 t are =c$ to rema9 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 ,:]eas m ?an #ai1ide y\? ag$ out ( fo/] c>e 9 #bjag )\t a legal p]man5t connection to an adult or family2 ,:]eas ! numb] ( y\? :o age out ( fo/] c>e has /eadily increas$ = ! pa/ decade2 ,:]eas fo/] c>e is int5d$ to be a tempor>y placem5t1 b *ildr5 rema9 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em = an av]age ( #ai4b ye>s2 ,:]eas *ildr5 9 fo/] c>e exp]i5ce an av]age ( #c diff]5t placem5ts1 :i* (t5 leads to disruption ( r\t9es & ! ne$ to *ange s*ools & move away f sibl+s1 ext5d$ families1 & famili> surr\nd+s2 ,:]eas *ildr5 ent]+ fo/] c>e (t5 confront ! widespread misp]ception t *ildr5 9 fo/] c>e are disruptive1 unruly1 & dang]\s1 ev5 ?\gh placem5t 9 fo/] c>e is bas$ on ! actions ( a p>5t or gu>dian1 n ! *ild2 ,:]eas *ildr5 :o age out ( fo/] c>e lack ! security or support ( a biological or adoptive family & frequ5tly /ruggle to secure af=dable h\s+1 obta9 heal? insurance1 pursue high] education1 & acquire adequate employm5t2 ,:]eas on av]age1 #h4e p]c5t ( ! positions 9 *ild protective s]vices rema9 vacant2 ,:]eas due to heavy caseloads & limit$ res\rces1 ! av]age t5ure = a work] 9 *ild protection s]vices is j #c ye>s2 ,:]eas ,/ates1 localities1 & communities %\ld be enc\rag$ to inve/ res\rces 9 prev5tative & reunification s]vices & po/p]man5cy programs to ensure t m *ildr5 9 fo/] c>e are provid$ ) safe1 lov+1 & p]man5t placem5ts2 ,:]eas ,f$]al legislation ov] ! pa/ #c decades1 includ+ ! ,adoption ,assi/ance & ,*ild ,welf>e ,act ( #aihj 7,public ,law #if-bgb71 ! ,adoption & ,safe ,families ,act ( #aiig 7,public ,law #aje-hi71 ! ,fo/]+ ,connections to ,success & ,increas+ ,adoptions ,act ( #bjjh 7,public ,law #aaj-cea71 ! ,*ild & ,family ,s]vices ,improvem5t & ,innovation ,act 7,public ,law #aab-cd71 ! ,prev5t+ ,sex ,traffick+ & ,/r5g!n+ ,families ,act 7,public ,law #aac-ahc71 & title ,,vii ( division ,e ( ! ,bip>tisan ,budget ,act ( #bjah1 also kn[n z ! ,family ,fir/ ,prev5tion ,s]vices ,act 7,public ,law #aae-abc71 provid$ new inve/m5ts & s]vices to improve ! outcomes ( *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 ,:]eas ,may #bjai is an appropriate mon? to designate z ,national ,fo/] ,c>e ,mon? to provide an opportunity to ackn[l$ge ! accompli%m5ts ( ! *ild welf>e work=ce1 fo/] p>5ts1 advocacy community1 & m5tors = _! d$ication1 accompli%m5ts1 & positive impact !y h on ! lives ( *ildr52 & ,:]eas mu* rema9s to be done to ensure t all *ildr5 h a safe1 lov+1 nurtur+1 & p]man5t family1 reg>dless ( age or special ne$s3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 supports ! designation ( ,national ,fo/] ,c>e ,mon?2 7#b7 recognizes ,national ,fo/] ,c>e ,mon? z an opportunity to raise aw>5ess ab\t ! *all5ges t *ildr5 face 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 7#c7 enc\rages ,congress to implem5t policy to improve ! lives ( *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 7#d7 ackn[l$ges ! special ne$s ( *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 7#e7 recognizes fo/] y\? ?r\gh\t ! ,unit$ ,/ates = _! ongo+ t5acity1 c\rage1 & resili5ce :ile fac+ life *all5ges2 7#f7 ackn[l$ges ! exceptional alumni ( ! fo/] c>e sy/em :o s]ve z advocates & role models = y\? :o rema9 9 c>e2 7#g7 honors ! commitm5t & d$ication ( ! individuals :o "w tirelessly to provide assi/ance & s]vices to *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 & 7#h7 reaffirms ! ne$ to cont9ue work+ to improve ! outcomes ( all *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em ?r\gh p>ts ,b & ,e ( title ,,iv ( ! ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq47 & o!r programs design$ to-- 7,a7 support vuln]able families2 7,b7 inve/ 9 prev5tion & reunification s]vices2 7,c7 promote adoption 9 cases :]e reunification is n 9 ! be/ int]e/s ( ! *ild2 7,d7 adequately s]ve ^? *ildr5 br\ght into ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 & 7,e7 facilitate ! successful transition into adul?ood = *ildr5 t age out ( ! fo/] c>e sy/em4