Designated May of each year as "Foster Care Month" in New Jersey.

SJR119

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 119

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

Senator� ROBERT W. SINGER

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates May of each year as �Foster Care Month� in
New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating May of each year as �Foster Care Month� in New
Jersey.

Whereas,

Foster care is a system in which a minor is placed into a ward, group home, or
private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster
parent" or with a family member approved by that state; and

Whereas,

The placement of the child is normally arranged through the government or a
social service agency. �The institution, group home, or foster parent is
compensated for expenses unless the child is placed with a family member; and

Whereas,

In some states, relative or �kinship� caregivers of children who are wards of
the state are provided with a financial stipend; and

Whereas,

In 2021, there were 3,188 children in New Jersey�s foster care system, down
from 3,788 in 2020.� Of those children, 1,640 were male and 1,547 were female;
and

Whereas,

In 2021, among the children in New Jersey�s foster care system, 1,242, or 39
percent, were African-American, 868, or 27 percent, were Hispanic-American, 26,
or 1 percent, were Asian-American and Pacific Islander, and 862, or 27 percent,
were White-American; and

Whereas,

In New Jersey, 1,698 children, or 53 percent, were living in the home of a
non-relative foster parent, and 1,282 foster children, or 40 percent of those
children, were living with licensed kinship foster parents in 2021; and

Whereas,

Between 2020 and 2021, the number of children in New Jersey who were placed in
Department of Children and Families (DCF) supervised out-of-home placements
decreased from 3,717 to 3,213, a 13.5 percent reduction; and

Whereas,

According to the DCF, this reduction is attributable both to New Jersey�s
statewide prevention network and the State�s ongoing effort to preserve
families and keep children and parents together in their homes while receiving child
welfare services; and

Whereas,

National Foster Care Month is an initiative of the Children�s Bureau within the
Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services; and

Whereas,

National Foster Care Month is celebrated each May, and is a time to acknowledge
foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child
welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and
youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections with families; and

Whereas,

The Children's Bureau�together a host of other Federal, State, and local
partners�builds awareness for National Foster Care Month through a dedicated
website that includes resources, stories, and outreach tools to help spread
awareness of the purpose of recognizing the month at the State and local
levels; and

Whereas,

This year�s theme for National Foster Care Month is focused on relative and kinship
connections to keep families strong; and

Whereas,

The National Foster Care Month website will feature tools to help child welfare
professionals develop strategies for: prioritizing family placements; licensing
relative caregivers; and providing equitable and culturally competent supports
to relative and kinship care providers; and

Whereas,

It is appropriate to designate the month of May as �Foster Care Month� to
promote awareness of the more than 3,100 children and youth in the State of New
Jersey�s foster care system, and to celebrate the child welfare professionals
who find permanent homes, facilitate connections with families, and make a
meaningful difference in the lives of those children and youth; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� The month of May of each
year is designated as �Foster Care Month� in the State of New Jersey to promote
awareness of the more than 3,100 children and youth in the State�s foster care
system, and to celebrate the child welfare professionals who find permanent
homes, facilitate connections with families, and make a meaningful difference
in the lives of those children and youth.

���� 2.� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation designating May as
�Foster Care Month� in New Jersey and calling upon public officials and
citizens of this State to observe the month with appropriate activities and
programs.

���� 3.� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
designates the month of May of each year is as �Foster Care Month� in the State
of New Jersey to promote awareness of the more than 3,100 children and youth in
the State�s foster care system, and to celebrate the child welfare
professionals who find permanent homes, facilitate connections with families,
and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those children and youth.