THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HICKERNELL, AUMENT, BAKER, BEAR, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DAVIS, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, EVERETT, FLECK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HARHART, HARPER, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, CULVER, SCHRODER, SONNEY, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TOOHIL, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 29, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 29, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the month of May 2012 as "Foster Care Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The family, a primary source of love, identity,

self-esteem and support, is the very foundation of our

communities and our Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania there are approximately 24,000

children and youth in foster care that are served by resource

families every year; and

WHEREAS, Children and youth in foster care are provided a

safe, secure and stable home and a compassionate and nurturing

foster family; and

WHEREAS, Foster families open their homes and hearts to

children whose families are in crisis; and

WHEREAS, Foster families play a vital role in helping

children and families heal and reconnect and in preparing

children for successful adulthood; and

WHEREAS, Dedicated foster families frequently adopt foster

children, resulting in a greater need for more foster families;

and

WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth foster parents adopt more than

60% of the children in the child welfare system who have had

their goal changed to adoption; and

WHEREAS, Numerous individuals, public organizations and

private organizations are working to increase awareness of the

needs of children in foster care or leaving foster care and of

the enduring and valuable contribution of foster parents; and

WHEREAS, The foster care system is only as good as those

persons who choose to be part of it; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

month of May 2012 as "Foster Care Month" in Pennsylvania and

urge all citizens to volunteer their talents and energies on

behalf of children in foster care, foster parents and child

welfare professionals.