New Resolution Affirms National Commitment to Foster Care Youth: Focuses on Housing and Education Support for Those Aging Out

This resolution is essentially a national statement of purpose for the U.S. foster care and adoption system. It’s not a binding law that changes funding or creates new programs, but it sets clear ethical standards and calls on all levels of government—federal, state, and local—to prioritize the well-being of children in the system. The core message is that the safety, well-being, and long-term stability of the child must be the most important consideration in every decision.

The Reality Check: Why This Matters

The resolution starts by laying out some hard facts, noting that over 340,000 children are in foster care, and around 20,000 young people age out every year without a permanent family. For those aging out, the transition is brutal; the resolution explicitly connects this lack of support to higher risks of homelessness, unemployment, and mental health issues. This isn’t just a policy problem; it’s a failure to support young adults at the moment they need it most—right when they’re supposed to be starting their careers or pursuing education.

Putting the Child First, Always

One of the resolution’s main themes is accountability and transparency. It affirms that the purpose of foster care is temporary, aimed at reunification or finding another permanent home. It emphasizes that compassion, ethics, and accountability must guide the system. For everyday people, this means the resolution is pushing for better oversight to prevent neglect or abuse within the system and reduce the kind of placement disruptions that force a child to switch schools and homes multiple times a year. If you’re a teacher, this means fewer new students arriving mid-semester dealing with incredible instability.

The Lifeline for Young Adults

Perhaps the most crucial part for young adults is the focus on those who age out of the system. The resolution specifically recognizes that these youth need sustained support for transitioning to adulthood. It calls for strengthening policies and programs that help them find education and employment opportunities, stable housing, mental health services, and positive mentors. Think of the 20-year-old who just lost their foster care support on their birthday; this resolution encourages lawmakers to ensure that person has access to a safe place to live and resources to pay for college or job training, rather than being left to navigate the world completely alone.

The Caregiver Commitment

The resolution also directly addresses the people doing the heavy lifting: foster parents, kinship caregivers, and adoptive parents. It calls for them to receive adequate training, resources, and emotional support. This is a recognition that you can’t ask people to take on the immense challenge of caring for children who have experienced trauma without giving them the tools to succeed. Improved training means better outcomes for the kids and less burnout for the caregivers. While this resolution is a statement of principles and doesn’t mandate funding, it provides a strong ethical framework that advocates can use to push for concrete legislation in the future.