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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Extended families have long played an important role |
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in raising children when parents are unable or unwilling to do so; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The 2000 U.S. Census found that across the country, |
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more than six million children were living in a household headed by |
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grandparents or other relatives; studies have found that such |
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kinship care provides numerous benefits; kinship placements tend to |
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be more permanent than foster care, and children gain a greater |
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sense of stability when they are loved and cared for in a familiar |
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setting by people they know and trust; kinship caregivers help |
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sustain extended family connections, continue lifelong traditions |
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and memories, and reinforce a child's sense of cultural identity |
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and self-esteem; and |
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WHEREAS, Although kinship placements bring many advantages, |
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the caregivers tend to be single, as well as older and less well off |
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than foster parents; in addition, kinship guardians today receive |
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fewer services for themselves and the children in their care; the |
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lack of financial resources and support services can lead to |
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difficulties that send children back into paid foster care; |
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accordingly, kinship programs have been developed across the nation |
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to help relatives cope with the responsibilities of child rearing |
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by providing assistance similar to that received by foster parents; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The 80th Texas Legislature showed its support for |
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kinship caregivers in Rider 31 in Article II of House Bill 1 |
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(Appropriations Act), which directed the Department of Family and |
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Protective Services to maximize federal funding for kinship |
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guardianship programs by developing and submitting or applying for |
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a waiver that would allow the State of Texas to use Title IV-E of the |
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Social Security Act or any other federal funds available for such |
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programs; and |
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WHEREAS, In October 2008, Congress enacted the Fostering |
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Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, which provides |
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federal resources to support kinship care; states are permitted to |
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claim federal reimbursement under Title IV-E for a part of the cost |
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of providing kinship guardianship assistance to every eligible |
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child who leaves foster care for placement with a grandparent or |
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other relative who has chosen to become the legal guardian; by |
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taking advantage of this funding, the State of Texas can help |
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kinship caregivers provide loving homes where children can thrive; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, It is the intent of the legislature to take full |
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advantage of federal funds, including funds available for |
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subsidized guardianship programs for kinship caregivers as |
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provided by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing |
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Adoptions Act (P.L. 110-351); now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby direct the Health and Human Services Commission to seek |
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federal funds available under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act |
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and to pursue all available funding for the support of kinship |
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caregivers; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the executive commissioner of the |
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Health and Human Services Commission and to the commissioner of the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services. |