Designates September of each year as "Kinship Care Month" in New Jersey.

SJR121

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 121

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates September of each year as �Kinship Care
Month� in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating September of
each
year as �Kinship Care Month� in New Jersey.

Whereas,

�Kinship� care describes temporary or permanent care provided by a relative or
close family friend, in place of a child�s biological parents; and

Whereas,

Kinship caregiving can be informal, in which the family decides the best
kinship arrangement for the child, or formal, in which a child welfare agency
has placed the child with a kinship caregiver; and

Whereas,

Kinship care is the preferred placement resource for a child who must be
removed from their home, because kinship care maintains a child�s familial and
cultural connections; and

Whereas,

Kinship caregiving provides a child stability and safety, as well as reduces
the trauma stemming from family separation; and

Whereas,

The State of New Jersey recognizes the importance of kinship placements by requiring
the Department of Children and Families to first consider placement of a child
with suitable kin, when a child has entered State custody; and

Whereas,

Nationally, 2.5 million children live in informal and formal kinship care
arrangements; and

Whereas,

In 2021, 1,282 children in the New Jersey foster care system, 40 percent of all
foster placements, were living with licensed kinship foster parents; and

Whereas,

Since 2012, The United States Congress, the Children�s� Bureau within the
Administration for Child and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, and over 20 states have recognized Kinship Care Month, and
celebrated the grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, and family friends
that support the children in their care; and

Whereas,

Kinship Care Month is celebrated each September to raise awareness of the work
done by kinship caregivers, as well as child welfare professionals, service
providers, volunteers, and community members to support children in kinship
care arrangements; and

Whereas,

The State of New Jersey offers dedicated resources and tools aimed at educating,
supporting, and improving the lives of children in kinship care arrangements;
and

Whereas,

It is appropriate to designate the month of September as �Kinship Care Month�
in the State of New Jersey to recognize the importance of kinship caregivers
and showcase the accomplishments of children supported through kinship
arrangements; now, therefore,

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

���� 1.� The month of September of
each year is designated as �Kinship Care Month� in the State of New Jersey to
recognize the importance of kinship caregivers and showcase the accomplishments
of children supported through kinship arrangements.

���� 2.� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation designating September
as �Kinship Care Month� in New Jersey 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 September of each year as �Kinship Care Month in the
State of New Jersey recognize the importance of kinship caregivers and showcase
the accomplishments of children supported through kinship arrangements.