81R16010 BPG-D
By: West S.C.R. No. 57
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Extended families have long played an important role
in raising children when parents are unable or unwilling to do so;
and
WHEREAS, The 2000 U.S. Census found that across the country,
more than six million children were living in a household headed by
grandparents or other relatives; studies have found that such
kinship care provides numerous benefits; kinship placements tend to
be more permanent than foster care, and children gain a greater
sense of stability when they are loved and cared for in a familiar
setting by people they know and trust; kinship caregivers help
sustain extended family connections, continue lifelong traditions
and memories, and reinforce a child's sense of cultural identity
and self-esteem; and
WHEREAS, Although kinship placements bring many advantages,
the caregivers tend to be single, as well as older and less well off
than foster parents; in addition, kinship guardians today receive
fewer services for themselves and the children in their care; the
lack of financial resources and support services can lead to
difficulties that send children back into paid foster care;
accordingly, kinship programs have been developed across the nation
to help relatives cope with the responsibilities of child rearing
by providing assistance similar to that received by foster parents;
and
WHEREAS, The 80th Texas Legislature showed its support for
kinship caregivers in Rider 31 in Article II of House Bill 1
(Appropriations Act), which directed the Department of Family and
Protective Services to maximize federal funding for kinship
guardianship programs by developing and submitting or applying for
a waiver that would allow the State of Texas to use Title IV-E of the
Social Security Act or any other federal funds available for such
programs; and
WHEREAS, In October 2008, Congress enacted the Fostering
Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, which provides
federal resources to support kinship care; states are permitted to
claim federal reimbursement under Title IV-E for a part of the cost
of providing kinship guardianship assistance to every eligible
child who leaves foster care for placement with a grandparent or
other relative who has chosen to become the legal guardian; by
taking advantage of this funding, the State of Texas can help
kinship caregivers provide loving homes where children can thrive;
and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of the legislature to take full
advantage of federal funds, including funds available for
subsidized guardianship programs for kinship caregivers as
provided by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing
Adoptions Act (P.L. 110-351); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby direct the Health and Human Services Commission to seek
federal funds available under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act
and to pursue all available funding for the support of kinship
caregivers; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the executive commissioner of the
Health and Human Services Commission and to the commissioner of the
Department of Family and Protective Services.