President Trump declared May as National Foster Care Month. In a statement Monday, the president praised selfless and compassionate guardians who bring in children so they can experience the joys of a family. The proclamation comes after he signed the Family First Prevention Services Act in February, which gives federal matching funds to states so they can provide services to families that can help keep their kids out of foster care. It also provides incentives for states to place foster children with individual families instead of in institutional or group homes. National Foster Care Month comes as more children have received placements for four straight years, mostly due to the opioid epidemic and drug abuse. On any given day, over 400,000 kids are in foster care, and in 2015 670,000 kids spent time in foster care. 92,000 of them were taken out of homes because of substance abuse. The statement praised families who provide stable and nurturing homes for children who are dealing with complex medical and challenging psychological and behavioral needs. It also called for more to be done to prevent the neglect and abuse that leads to many children being taken out of their homes.
The judges on the Fifth Circuit Court of appeals have up to six- months to decide on the class action lawsuit brought by the state attorney general on behalf of 11,000 kids in long-term foster care. Meanwhile, Kansas currently has a record number of children in state custody even as the government has cut back on mental health and other services. Reports say social workers have had to stay overnight in their offices with kids on cots and couches, because there are not enough beds to cope with the influx. Over 100,000 kids in foster care are eligible for adoption, and waiting for a permanent family. The month aims to raise awareness about the increasing number of children being placed in foster care as well as to encourage Americans to invest in the lives of some of the nation’s most vulnerable children and families.
Many states are still grappling with how to properly protect the infants, children, and youth in their care.
On Monday, a panel of three judges in Texas heard arguments the state mistreats foster children so much that it violates the U.S. Constitution.
Over 100,000 kids in foster care are eligible for adoption, and waiting for a permanent family.
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