1
________________________________ ________________________________
Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
________________________________ ________________________________
Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Zachary Parker
________________________________ ________________________________
Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Anita Bonds
________________________________
Councilmember Christina Henderson
A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 1
2
_______ 3
4
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 5
6
_______________ 7
8
To recognize the importance of kinship families in the District of Columbia and the many benefits 9
kinship caregivers bestow on the children in their care as well as the many challenges they 10
face when raising these children, and to declare the month of September 2023 as “Kinship 11
Care Month” in the District of Columbia. 12
13
WHEREAS, the DC Council seeks to proclaim September 2023 as Kinship Care Month in 14
the District of Columbia; and 15
16
WHEREAS, Kinship Care Month is observed to recognize children in kinship families, and 17
the grandparents, other relatives, and family friends who raise them, ensuring their safety, 18
promoting their well-being, and establishing a safe and stable home for these young people; and 19
20
WHEREAS, in kinship families, a caregiver cares for a child or children who were 21
biologically born to another family member or close friend because the biological parents are 22
unable to raise them; and 23
24
WHEREAS, nationally, approximately 2.7 million children are living with grandparents 25
and other relatives or fictive kin in kinship care; more than 22,000 of these young people reside in 26
the District of Columbia, with fewer than 125 of them in foster care; and 27
28
WHEREAS, one in 11 of all children, and one in five African-American children, will live 29
2
within a kinship family sometime during their childhood; and 30
31
WHEREAS, kinship caregivers report tremendous satisfaction in caring for and raising 32
children but face substantial challenges in accessing the resources they need to care for their 33
families; and 34
35
WHEREAS, many kinship caregivers live at or below the margins of financial stability 36
themselves even before they agree to take a child into their homes, while others may give up their 37
retirement years to assume parenting duties for these children; and 38
39
WHEREAS, many children come to live with kinship caregivers after allegations of 40
parental abuse or neglect; and 41
42
WHEREAS, children in kinship care frequently have mental health conditions from trauma 43
experienced in their homes and communities; and 44
45
WHEREAS, kinship caregivers offer a refuge, as well as love, nurturing and care, for these 46
children; and 47
48
WHEREAS, research shows that kinship care helps maintain family, sibling and 49
community ties, improves behavioral and mental health outcomes, and promotes permanency for 50
children who cannot live with their parents; and 51
52
WHEREAS, it is vitally important the public grow in awareness of the challenges faced by 53
children, grandparents and other relatives in kinship families; so as to ensure there are services and 54
supports available and accessible to enable kinship youth to grow and thrive; and 55
56
WHEREAS, Kinship Care Month honors the priceless role these grandparents and other 57
kinship caregivers play in the lives of the children they love. 58
59
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 60
resolution may be cited as the “Kinship Care Month Recognition Resolution of 2023”. 61
62
Sec. 2. The Council recognizes the contributions of kinship families raising children in the 63
District of Columbia, and declares the month of September 2023 as “Kinship Care Month”, as a 64
confirmation of the District’s continued support to kinship caregivers for stepping up in times of 65
crisis to provide loving homes for children in the District. 66
67
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in 68
the District of Columbia Register. 69