Foster Care Resolution Urges Congress to Act on Instability and Aging Out Crisis

This resolution is essentially Congress hitting the pause button and saying, "Hey, we need to talk about foster care." It formally designates May 2025 as National Foster Care Month and May 31, 2025, as National Foster Parent Appreciation Day. The main purpose is to raise awareness and encourage Congress to actually implement policies that improve the lives of the nearly 370,000 children currently in the system.

The Realities of Instability and Disparity

The resolution lays out some tough facts that cut through the noise. For the kids in care, stability is a huge issue. The average stay is about 22.6 months, and roughly one-third of kids move placements more than once. This instability translates directly into real-world disruption: 75% of foster youth experience an unscheduled school change in a single year, which is a major barrier to learning and forming healthy relationships. This isn’t just about moving furniture; it’s about losing friends, teachers, and any sense of routine. The resolution also highlights racial disparities, noting that children of color often stay in care longer and are less likely to achieve family reunification.

The Aging Out Cliff

One of the most critical issues this resolution highlights is the “aging out” crisis. In 2022, nearly 18,538 youths left the system without a permanent family connection. Think about that: they turn 18 or 21 and suddenly lose all state support. The resolution points out that these young adults immediately face massive hurdles—finding housing, securing health insurance, accessing higher education, and getting a stable job. For busy people aged 25–45, imagine trying to start your independent life today without a safety net or family support; that’s the cliff these young people are pushed off of. This resolution is a call to action to better support their transition into adulthood, which is currently failing thousands every year.

Supporting the Front Lines

The resolution doesn’t just focus on the kids; it recognizes the people doing the heavy lifting. It calls out the high turnover rate (20%–40%) among child welfare workers, who are dealing with massive caseloads and limited resources. It also gives a necessary nod to foster parents and relative caregivers. While foster parents are celebrated, the resolution notes that relative caregivers—grandparents, aunts, uncles—often receive less financial support than non-relative foster parents, even though placing kids with relatives often results in more stable placements and better outcomes for the kids. By encouraging Congress to improve policies, this resolution aims to address these resource gaps.

A Push for Prevention and Permanence

While this resolution is non-binding—meaning it doesn’t mandate any specific spending or law change—it strongly encourages Congress to invest more in prevention and reunification services. This means getting support to struggling families before children have to enter the system. It also reaffirms the commitment to promoting adoption when reunification isn't possible and providing crucial post-permanency support. Essentially, the Senate is saying the system needs to prioritize keeping families whole or finding permanent, loving homes quickly, rather than cycling children through temporary placements. It’s a policy nudge to focus on the root causes and long-term stability, not just crisis management.