Bill Text: NJ AJR102 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates September of each year as "Kinship Care Month" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-01 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee [AJR102 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AJR102-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
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.
