,,iii  #aaith ,,congress  #ast ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #eaf  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,november 
#bj1 #bjbe,mr4 ,husted 7for himself and 
,mr4 ,kaine7 submitted the following    
resolution2 which was referred to the   
,committee on ,health1 ,education1      
,labor1 and ,pensions  ,,resolution     
,ensuring that the adoption and foster  
care system in the ,united ,states is   
child-centered and compassionate and    
that young people aging out of foster   
care are provided with adequate support 
and resources to transition successfully
 to independent adulthood4  ,whereas    
more than #cdj1jjj children and youth in
 the ,united ,states are currently in   
foster care1 and more than #ajj1jjj of  
those children are eligible for         
adoption1 many having experienced       
trauma1 neglect1 or instability before  
entering the system2 ,whereas the       
purpose of foster care is to provide    
safe1 nurturing1 and temporary care for 
children who cannot safely remain with  

their families while working toward     
reunification or another permanent1     
loving home2 ,whereas children and youth
 in foster care often experience        
placement instability1 separation from  
siblings1 and educational disruption1   
all of which require specialized care   
and individualized support2 ,whereas the
 well-being of children in foster care  
depends on transparency1 accountability1
 and oversight to ensure that ,state and
 private agencies operate with          
integrity1 compassion1 and fairness2    
,whereas foster parents1 kinship        
caregivers1 and adoptive parents should 
be equipped with the training1          
resources1 and emotional supports needed
 to meet children's developmental needs2
 ,whereas approximately #bj1jjj young   
people age out of foster care each year 
without permanent family connections1   
leaving many at increased risk of       
homelessness1 unemployment1 mental      
health challenges1 and involvement with 
the criminal justice system2 ,whereas   

ethical and compassionate foster care   
extends beyond childhood1 requiring     
sustained support for youth             
transitioning to adulthood through      
education1 housing1 employment1 and     
relational permanency2 and ,whereas the 
,united ,states has a strong moral and  
civic duty to ensure that every child in
 the adoption and foster care system1   
and every young adult who leaves that   
system has the chance to thrive and make
 meaningful contributions to their      
communities3 ,now1 therefore1 be it     
,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 affirms that   
compassion1 transparency1 ethics1 and   
accountability must guide every aspect  
of the adoption and foster care system  
in the ,united ,states2  7#b7 emphasizes
 that the safety1 well-being1 and       
long-term stability of the child must   
remain the paramount consideration in   
all adoption and foster care decisions2 
7#c7 encourages ,federal1 ,state1 and   
local governments to strengthen policies
 and programs that prioritize family    

preservation and reunification whenever 
safe for the child1 provide adequate    
training and emotional support for      
adoptive1 foster1 and kinship           
caregivers1 and improve oversight and   
training mechanisms designed to prevent 
neglect or abuse within the adoption and
 foster care system and reduce placement
 disruptions2  7#d7 recognizes that     
youth who age out of foster care may    
require support in finding education and
 employment opportunities1 housing1     
mental health services1 and positive    
mentors2  7#e7 honors the commitment of 
adoptive and foster parents1 kinship    
caregivers1 social workers1 judges1 case
 managers1 and child advocates2 and     
7#f7 calls upon ,congress1 the          
,administration1 and all ,state and     
local child welfare systems to work     
collaboratively toward a future in which
 every child in the adoption and foster 
care system is cared for ethically1     
supported compassionately1 and given the
 foundation to thrive in stable family  

and community relationships4