RECOGNIZING CHILDREN & FAMILIES FIRST DURING NATIONAL FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN MAY 2026.

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Griffith & Sen. Cruce

Reps. Berry, Bolden, Bush, Carson, Dukes, Gorman, S. Moore, Morrison, Ross Levin, Snyder-Hall, Harris; Sens. Hoffner, Huxtable, Pinkney, Sokola, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 127

RECOGNIZING CHILDREN & FAMILIES FIRST DURING NATIONAL FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN MAY 2026.

WHEREAS, May is recognized nationally as both National Foster Care Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, providing an opportunity to honor those who serve Delaware's most vulnerable children and families; and

WHEREAS, Children & Families First (CFF), founded in 1884 and headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, has served children and families across the First State for more than 140 years, operating more than 20 programs across Delaware – with locations in Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown, and Seaford — and serving tens of thousands of Delaware children and families annually; and

WHEREAS, CFF's work spans several critical practice areas including Early Childhood, Foster Care & Adoption, and Youth Behavioral Health, with a workforce of approximately 200 dedicated professionals across the state; and

WHEREAS, CFF's Early Childhood programs — including home visiting and childcare connection — provide critical developmental support that gives Delaware's youngest children a strong foundation to thrive in school and in life; and

WHEREAS, CFF's Foster Care & Adoption programs provide essential support to children in Delaware's child welfare system, working to ensure that every Delaware child has a safe, stable, and nurturing home; and

WHEREAS, CFF's trauma-informed, brain science-based approach to Youth Behavioral Health addresses the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and builds resilience in children, youth, and the families who care for them; and

WHEREAS, CFF's preventive, community-based model strengthens Delaware families before crises occur, reducing the need for more costly interventions and building long-term resilience across generations; and

WHEREAS, CFF serves as an integral and reliable partner to Delaware state agencies — including the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF), the Department of Education, and the Division of Public Health — delivering high-quality, community-based services that extend the state's capacity to reach children and families across all regions of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, on May 12, 2026, Children & Families First brings board members and staff to Legislative Hall to advocate on behalf of the children and families they serve, demonstrating their deep commitment to partnership with Delaware's General Assembly.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that Children & Families First is hereby recognized and commended for its extraordinary and enduring contributions to the children and families of Delaware, and that the members of the General Assembly express their gratitude to CFF's leadership, staff, volunteers, and the families they serve throughout the First State.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly encourages all Delawareans to recognize the month of May, 2026, as National Foster Care Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month and to support the vital work of organizations like Children & Families First in building strong, healthy, and resilient families across Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This House Concurrent Resolution recognizes and commends Children & Families First for its extraordinary and enduring contributions to the children and families of Delaware during National Foster Care Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2026.