Read the full stored bill text
1
1 2 ________________________________ ________________________________ 3 Chairman Phil Mendelson Councilmember Zachary Parker 4 5 6 7 ________________________________ ________________________________ 8 Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 9 10 11 12 ________________________________ ________________________________ 13 Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Matthew Frumin 14 15 16 17 ________________________________ 18 Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 19 20 21 22 A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 23 24 _________________________ 25 26 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 27 28 _________________________ 29 30 31 To recognize the importance of kinship families in the District of Columbia and the many 32 benefits kinship caregivers bestow on the children in their care as well as the many 33 challenges they face when raising these children, and to declare the month of September 34 2026 as “Kinship Care Month” in the District of Columbia. 35 36 WHEREAS, the D.C. Council seeks to proclaim September 2026 as Kinship Care Month 37 in the District of Columbia; and 38 39 WHEREAS, Kinship Care Month is observed to recognize children in kinship families, 40 and the grandparents, other relatives, and family friends who raise them, ensuring their safety, 41 promoting their well-being, and establishing a safe and stable home for these young people; and 42 43
2
WHEREAS, in kinship families, a caregiver cares for a child or children who were 44 biologically born to another family member or close friend because the biological parents are 45 unable to raise them; and 46 47 WHEREAS, nationally, approximately 2.7 million children are living with grandparents 48 and other relatives or fictive kin in kinship care, and more than 18,000 of these young people 49 reside in the District of Columbia, with fewer than 120 of them living in kinship foster care; and 50 51 WHEREAS, one in 11 of all children, and one in five Black children, will live within a 52 kinship family sometime during their childhood; and 53 54 WHEREAS, kinship caregivers report tremendous satisfaction in caring for and raising 55 children, but face substantial challenges in accessing the resources they need to care for their 56 families; and 57 58 WHEREAS, many kinship caregivers live at or below the margins of financial stability 59 themselves even before they agree to take a child into their homes, while others may give up 60 their retirement years to assume parenting duties for these children; and 61 62 WHEREAS, many children come to live with kinship caregivers after allegations of 63 parental abuse or neglect; and 64 65 WHEREAS, children in kinship care frequently have mental health conditions from 66 trauma experienced in their homes and communities; and 67 68 WHEREAS, kinship caregivers offer a refuge, as well as love, nurturing and care, for 69 these children; and 70 71 WHEREAS, research shows that kinship care helps maintain family, sibling and 72 community ties, improves behavioral and mental health outcomes, and promotes permanency for 73 children who cannot live with their parents; and 74 75 WHEREAS, it is vitally important for the public to grow in awareness of the challenges 76 faced by children, grandparents, and other relatives in kinship families; so as to ensure there are 77 services and supports available and accessible to enable kinship youth to grow and thrive; and 78 79 WHEREAS, the D.C. Council expresses its wholehearted thanks and support for kinship 80 caregivers for stepping up in times of crisis to provide loving homes for D.C. children; and 81 82 WHEREAS, Kinship Care Month honors the priceless role these grandparents and other 83 kinship caregivers play in the lives of the children they love. 84 85 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this 86 resolution may be cited as the “Kinship Care Month Recognition Resolution of 2026”. 87 88
3
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes the contributions of kinship 89 families raising children in the District of Columbia, and declares the month of September 2026 90 as “Kinship Care Month”, as a confirmation of the District’s continued support of kinship 91 caregivers for stepping up in times of crisis to provide loving homes for children in the District. 92 93 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 94