On Friday, September 22, Congressperson Karen Bass (D-CA), along with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), introduced resolutions designating September as National Kinship Care Month.

CWLA has long supported efforts to more formally recognize the month as a month of tribute to kinship caregivers and families similar to November as National adoption Month and May as National Foster Care Month.

Representative Bass was joined by the five co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. Bass said, “Grandparents and other relatives all over our nation step forward every day to provide a home and care for children when their biological parents are unable to do so. These family members play a vital role in our child welfare system and often care for these children without the same resources as foster parents. This sometimes lifesaving support deserves to be honored and recognized. I’m proud to support this effort lead by the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth as we continue to fight for meaningful recognition and reform for this important issue.”

Her Senate counterpart, Senator Ron Wyden, said, “My work on kinship care has long been driven by a core belief that whenever it’s in the best interest of children, every possibility must be explored to keep children connected to their families and relatives. I’m proud to join a bipartisan group of colleagues in both houses of Congress that recognizes this crucial goal as we continue to work on ways to keep families and kids together.”

Read the full resolution here.