# National Kinship Care Month Resolution

This is a resolution expressing support for designating September 2021 as "National Kinship Care Month." In simpler terms, it's Congress saying they want to officially recognize and draw attention to kinship care during that month.

Kinship care refers to when relatives other than parents—like grandparents, aunts, uncles, or older siblings—step in to raise children. This happens for various reasons: parents might be dealing with addiction, incarceration, illness, or have passed away. These relatives become the primary caregivers, often without going through formal adoption processes. It's a common arrangement that keeps kids within their extended families rather than entering the foster care system.

By designating a national month, Congress is essentially shining a spotlight on kinship caregivers and the challenges they face. These caregivers often struggle with financial hardship, legal complications around guardianship, and lack of access to support services. They might not qualify for foster care benefits or subsidies because they're family members, yet they're taking on enormous responsibility. A national recognition month helps raise awareness about these issues and can encourage communities, nonprofits, and government agencies to provide better resources and support to kinship families.

This resolution doesn't create new laws or programs—it's symbolic. However, symbolic recognition can lead to real changes by getting people talking about the issue and potentially spurring policy makers to develop better support systems for the millions of American children being raised by relatives.

Expressing support for the designation of September 2021 as "National Kinship Care Month".

Bass, Karen

 <p>This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Kinship Care Month and encourages Congress to work to improve outcomes for kinship caregivers and their families.</p>