BILL NUMBER: ACR 139	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  29
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  MAY 24, 2012
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  MAY 21, 2012
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 17, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 17, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 8, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Beall
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Block, Eng, Gatto, Hagman,
Hall, Harkey, Hill, Logue, Mitchell, Olsen, Pan, Solorio, Williams,
Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Atkins, Bill Berryhill, Blumenfield,
Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon,
Campos, Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson,
Donnelly, Feuer, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Beth Gaines, Garrick,
Gordon, Gorell, Grove, Halderman, Roger Hernández, Huber, Hueso,
Jeffries, Jones, Lara, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza, Miller, Monning,
Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez,
Portantino, Silva, Smyth, Swanson, Torres, Valadao, Wagner, and
Wieckowski)
   (Coauthors: Senators Cannella, De León, DeSaulnier, Fuller,
Hancock, Liu, Runner, Strickland, Wolk, and Wright)

                        MARCH 22, 2012

   Relative to Foster Care Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 139, Beall. Foster Care Month.
   This measure would designate May 2012 as Foster Care Month in
California.



   WHEREAS, Progress can be measured by the opportunities we pass on
to our children. For the youth in foster care across our state, we
can give them the chance to have a safe, permanent, loving home where
they can feel secure and thrive; and
   WHEREAS, California has the largest foster care population of any
state, and most children in foster care are removed from their
parents by the county child welfare departments, in conjunction with
juvenile dependency courts, for a variety of reasons including abuse,
abandonment, or neglect; and
   WHEREAS, During 2011, California's foster care system provided for
the care of approximately 55,000 children on average each day; and
   WHEREAS, By October of 2011, 5,342 children were adopted and 2,056
children obtained guardianship; and
   WHEREAS, In recent years, more than one-half of the children
leaving foster care returned to their families; and
   WHEREAS, Each year, approximately 4,000 to 5,000 foster youth
reach the age of 18 in the foster care system without ever being
adopted by, or finding permanency with, a family that loves,
nurtures, protects, and guides them; and
   WHEREAS, Children "aging out" of foster care need and deserve a
support system as they work to secure affordable housing, pursue
higher education, and acquire adequate employment; and
   WHEREAS, During Foster Care Month, we recognize the efforts of
California's adoptive and foster families, relative caregivers,
social workers, local governments, faith-based and community
organizations, and others that are improving the lives of young
people in foster care, and encourage all Californians to partake in
efforts to serve these children in the year ahead; now, therefore, be
it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the month of May
2012 as Foster Care Month in California and encourages the people of
the State of California to work together to ensure a brighter future
for foster youth; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.