Bill Text: CA SCR35 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Foster Care Month.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-05-28 - To Com. on RULES. [SCR35 Detail]
Download: California-2009-SCR35-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SCR 35 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Steinberg
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Bass)
(Coauthor: Senator Wolk)
APRIL 20, 2009
Relative to Foster Care Month.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 35, as introduced, Steinberg. Foster Care Month.
This measure would designate May 2009 as Foster Care Month.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, In California, there are 75,000 children and youth in
foster care who need and deserve safe permanent connections to loving
adults, stable homes, and adequate preparation for a secure future;
and
WHEREAS, The needs of children and youth for a sense of belonging
and unconditional emotional commitment are best met in families; and
WHEREAS, Many California counties have successfully supported
permanent family connections for foster youth, provided support for
families at risk of entering the child welfare system, and changed
practices to fully engage youth, family, and communities, thereby
reducing the number of children and youth in foster care; and
WHEREAS, California recognizes the enduring and valuable
contribution of relatives, foster parents, and adoptive parents who
open their hearts, families, and homes to vulnerable children and
youth; and
WHEREAS, California recognizes the numerous individuals and public
and private organizations that work to ensure that the needs of
children and youth living in, and leaving, foster care are met, that
help to provide foster children and youth and former foster children
and youth with vital connections to their siblings, and that help
launch young people into successful adulthood; and
WHEREAS, There is a new federal law, the Fostering Connections to
Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-351),
that offers opportunities to promote permanent families for children
in foster care, improves outcomes for older youth in foster care,
increases support for Native American foster children and youth,
improves the quality of staff working with children and youth in the
child welfare system, expands our support of relative and adoptive
caregivers, and assists older foster youth in securing meaningful
supportive transitions from foster care; and
WHEREAS, The new federal act affirms California's leadership and
success in pioneering innovative child welfare approaches; and
WHEREAS, California is committed to working in partnership with
the federal government to improve the lives and futures of all
children and youth touched by the child welfare system; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates May 2009 as
Foster Care Month; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
