A 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.

Key Points

• The Senate officially named May 2026 as National Foster Care Month and May 31 as National Foster Parent Appreciation Day. This action aims to bring attention to the more than 330,000 children currently living in the foster care system across the country.
• The resolution highlights serious issues, such as the fact that children stay in foster care for nearly two years on average. It also notes that over 15,000 young people age out of the system each year without a permanent family, which often leads to struggles with housing and employment.
• It calls for new policies to help families stay together and to support foster parents who provide essential care. The resolution also emphasizes the need for better mental health monitoring, noting that 30 percent of foster children are taking at least one anti-psychotic medication.
• This measure honors the social workers and advocates who work in a system facing high turnover rates. It encourages the government to invest more in programs that prevent children from entering foster care or help them find permanent homes through adoption.

Impact Analysis

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