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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan declared May as National
3Foster Care Month to recognize the important contributions that
4foster parents make to society and to the most vulnerable among
5us by opening their homes to abused and abandoned children; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The number of children in foster care in Illinois
7has been increasing at an alarming pace; thousands of Illinois
8children, through no fault of their own, have been separated
9from their families and are living in foster care; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The number of foster children in Illinois has
11reached more than 18,000 and has increased by more than 1,000
12over the past four years; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Children in foster care are of all ages and
14backgrounds; many of them are accompanied by younger brothers
15and sisters; they need the comfort, support, and security that
16only a family can provide; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Many foster children will never be re-united with
18their biological families; approximately half of foster
19children will not be returned to their birth families; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Most of the children under care of the State live

 

 

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1in temporary situations with either relatives or foster
2families; some live in professionally-staffed group settings;
3and
 
4    WHEREAS, Children deserve the love and security of a home
5and a 'forever' family; adoption offers stability and better
6outcomes for children in foster care, allowing them to flourish
7in a safe, welcoming, and stable environment; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Illinois lags the nation, ranking last among the
950 states, in the permanent placement and adoption of children
10in its foster care system; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Illinois is committed to ensuring that children
12grow up in healthy, safe, and loving homes; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May of 2019
15as Foster Care Month in Illinois and urge the Department of
16Children and Family Services to facilitate and encourage the
17adoption of children in foster care throughout the State; and
18be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the Director of Children and Family Services.