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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 children in the care of the State of
11Illinois has reached almost 20,000, which includes over 15,000
12foster children, and has increased by more than 2,000 over the
13past year; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Children in foster care are of all ages and
15backgrounds; many of them are accompanied by younger brothers
16and sisters; they need the comfort, support, and security that
17only a family can provide; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Many foster children will never be re-united with
19their biological families; approximately half of foster
20children will not be returned to their birth families; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Most of the children under care of the State live
2in temporary situations with either relatives or foster
3families; some live in professionally-staffed group settings;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, Children deserve the love and security of a home
6and a 'forever' family; adoption offers stability and better
7outcomes for children in foster care, allowing them to flourish
8in a safe, welcoming, and stable environment; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Illinois lags the nation, ranking last among the
1050 states, in the permanent placement and adoption of children
11in its foster care system; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Illinois is committed to ensuring that children
13grow up in healthy, safe, and loving homes; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May of 2020
16as Foster Care Month in Illinois and urge the Department of
17Children and Family Services to facilitate and encourage the
18adoption of children in foster care throughout the State; and
19be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21presented to the Director of Children and Family Services.