WASHINGTON DC (May 22, 2020) — The Senate passed a resolution by Senator Charles "Chuck" Grassley (R-IA), co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, recognizing May as National Foster Care Month.
“While children in the foster care system need love and support year-round, we designate this month as a special opportunity to raise awareness of the struggles they face and how we can all help. Especially now, with all of the additional challenges that youth are facing due to COVID-19 related closures, it’s important to recognize these young people and bring attention to the issues that they face. It’s also important to recognize and support everyone involved in helping foster youth, including foster parents, youth mentors, case-workers, social workers, and child-welfare advocates. These individuals working on the frontlines provide love, guidance, and support to children in need. As members of the Senate, we should continue assisting them in their important work,” Sen Grassley said.
Introduced by Sen Grassley, along with Sen Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and 27 bipartisan colleagues, the resolution describes the multiple challenges facing the approximately 437,000 children in the foster-care system, and recognizes the efforts of all those who work to improve the system. It resolves that the Senate should enact policies to improve the lives of these children. Policy goals include the achievement of permanent homes and the successful transition of youths who are aging out of the system into adulthood.
The Senate gave final passage to the measure without objection. Sen Grassley has led the effort to designate May as National Foster Care Month every year since 2015.
Text of the resolution is available here. Sen Grassley recently gave a speech on the Senate floor on the topic which is available here, and wrote a Q&A on the topic which is available here.
