PRINTER'S NO. 2724
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
618
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY PASHINSKI, DEAN, HENNESSEY, MURT, WARD, BOBACK,
NEILSON, KINSEY, MILLARD, DiGIROLAMO, LONGIETTI, JAMES,
THOMAS, McCARTER, KIRKLAND, DAVIS, HILL-EVANS, READSHAW,
MARSICO, DeLUCA AND SCHLOSSBERG, NOVEMBER 20, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
NOVEMBER 20, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating November 20, 2017, as "Kinship Caregiver Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Families are central to the well-being of our
communities, Pennsylvania and the nation as a whole, with
children being the future of our society; and
WHEREAS, Childrearing has traditionally been the
responsibility of biological parents with support from other
family members and the community; and
WHEREAS, Biological parents are not always able to raise
their children for numerous reasons, including illness,
substance abuse issues, incarceration, financial instability and
death; and
WHEREAS, The opioid epidemic in particular has torn apart
thousands of Pennsylvania's families, leaving many children
without parents who can care for them and straining the State's
ability to protect those children; and
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WHEREAS, Approximately one-third of children entering the
foster care system are placed there because of parental drug
abuse; and
WHEREAS, Grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and
other kin are stepping forward in ever-increasing numbers to
assume full-time parental responsibility for children whose
parents are unable or unwilling to care for them; and
WHEREAS, Kinship care may be an informal, private arrangement
or involve child welfare services; and
WHEREAS, Kinship care can keep children out of the foster
care system and in their own communities, putting less strain on
an overloaded system, providing savings to the State and
potentially leading to better outcomes for children; and
WHEREAS, Studies have shown that kinship care leads to more
permanent placements and fewer social and behavioral issues for
children than foster care in general; and
WHEREAS, More than 100,000 children in Pennsylvania live with
a relative with no biological parent present; and
WHEREAS, These relative-headed families face enormous
challenges ensuring that the children in their care experience
structure, accountability, encouragement, affection, safety and
age-appropriate expectations; and
WHEREAS, As a result of this commitment, the home provided
for many of these children becomes their "forever" home and
their relatives become moms and dads in the truest sense; and
WHEREAS, Numerous resources, including grandfamilies.org,
Generations United, the National Kinship Alliance for Children
and the United States Children's Bureau within the United States
Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for
Children and Families, among others, provide information and
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support to kinship caregivers in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, November 20 is recognized as "Universal Children's
Day," intended to promote awareness of children's rights and the
welfare of children around the world; and
WHEREAS, On "Universal Children's Day" we take time to spread
awareness and honor the commitment of kinship caregivers;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
November 20, 2017, as "Kinship Caregiver Day" in Pennsylvania.
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