,,iv #aah? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #cdi ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,may #b1 #bjbc,ms4 ,kamlag]-,dove 7= h]self1 ,ms4 ,moore ( ,wiscons91 ,mr4 ,nunn ( ,i[a1 ,ms4 ,scanlon1 ,ms4 ,mace1 & ,mr4 ,bacon7 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/em & enc\rag+ ,congress to implem5t policy to improve ! lives ( *ildr5 91 or at risk ( ent]+1 ! fo/] c>e sy/em4 ,:]eas ,national ,fo/] ,c>e ,mon? 0 e/abli%$ m ?an #cj 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 family2 ,:]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 #bjba1 !re 7 approximately #djg1dic *ildr5 (ficially liv+ 9 fo/] c>e n c\nt+ ^? *ildr5 ^: physical cu/ody has be5 %ift$ to c>egiv]s outside ( ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 ,:]eas approximately #bea1cei *ildr5 ent]$ fo/] c>e 9 #bjai1 :ile #abb1baf *ildr5 7 eligible & wait+ = adoption at ! end ( #bjai2 ,:]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>5ts1 includ+ k9 families1 are ! frontl9e 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 homes1 = *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/ability1 ) #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$uce ! numb] ( *ildr5 t ent] or re5t] ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 ,:]eas ! effects ( ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic h creat$ additional *all5ges = y\? & families 9 ! *ild welf>e sy/em1 includ+ delays 9 p]man5cy1 economic h>d%ips1 & disruptions 9 education2 ,:]eas m ?an #bj1jjj y\? age out ( fo/] c>e annually )\t a legal p]man5t connection to an adult or family1 ) #bj p]c5t ( !m becom+ in/antly homeless2 ,:]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 ( #ai4f mon?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 ,:]eas1 on av]age1 #h4e p]c5t ( ! positions 9 *ild protection s]vices rema9 vacant2 ,:]eas1 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 ,:]eas1 9 #bjah1 ,congress pass$ ! ,family ,fir/ ,prev5tion ,s]vices ,act 7,public ,law #aae-abc2 #acb ,/at4 #bcb71 :i* provid$ new inve/m5ts 9 prev5tion1 e>ly int]v5tion1 & family reunification s]vices to help m families /ay toge!r1 provid$ support = k9%ip 7relative7 c>egiv]s1 & provid$ improv$ & m flexible s]vices to old] y\? ag+ out ( fo/] c>e1 to ensure t m *ildr5 c be 9 safe1 lov+1 & p]man5t homes2 ,:]eas ,f$]al legislation ov] ! pa/ #c decades1 includ+ ! ,adoption ,assi/ance & ,*ild ,welf>e ,act ( #aihj 7,public ,law #if-bgb71 ! ,adoption & ,safe ,families ,act ( #aiig 7,public ,law #aje-hi71 ! ,fo/]+ ,connections to ,success & ,increas+ ,adoptions ,act ( #bjjh 7,public ,law #aaj-cea71 ! ,*ild & ,family ,s]vices ,improvem5t & ,innovation ,act 7,public ,law #aab-cd71 & ! ,prev5t+ ,sex ,traffick+ & ,/r5g!n+ ,families ,act 7,public ,law #aac-ahc71 provid$ new inve/m5ts & s]vices to improve ! outcomes ( *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 ,:]eas ,may 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 effects 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$s3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 supports ! designation ( ,national ,fo/] ,c>e ,mon?2 7#b7 recognizes ,national ,fo/] ,c>e ,mon? z an opportunity to raise aw>5ess ab\t ! *all5ges t *ildr5 face 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 7#c7 enc\rages ,congress to implem5t policies to improve ! lives ( *ildr5 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em2 7#d7 ackn[l$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$ges ! exceptional alumni ( ! fo/] c>e sy/em :o s]ve z advocates & role models = y\? :o rema9 9 fo/] c>e2 7#g7 honors ! commitm5t & d$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 #fba et seq4 & #fgj et seq47 & o!r programs design$ to-- 7,a7 support vuln]able families2 7,b7 inve/ 9 prev5tion1 e>ly int]v5tion1 & 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