Congress honors kinship caregivers, signals support for expanded family-based child welfare
H.Res. 771 — Expressing support for the designation of September 2025 as "National Kinship Care Month". · Filed by Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) · 5 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 26, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This resolution expresses congressional support for designating September 2025 as 'National Kinship Care Month' to recognize and honor grandparents, relatives, and other family members who raise children outside the traditional foster care system. The resolution highlights that over 2.5 million children live in kinship care arrangements, notes that kinship caregivers save taxpayers over $4 billion annually by preventing children from entering the formal foster care system, and calls on Congress to enact policies supporting these families through existing child welfare programs.
Why we flagged it
This is a non-binding commemorative resolution that designates a month for recognition and advocacy. It contains no legislative mechanism, appropriations, or regulatory change—only expressions of support and calls for future policy action by Congress.
What the text implies
- The resolution's call to 'enact policies' and 'improve outcomes' through Title IV of the Social Security Act may signal future legislative intent to expand kinship navigator programs and increase support funding, though no specific appropriation or mechanism is included in this resolution.
- The emphasis on racial disparities (Black children overrepresented in kinship care by 11 percentage points; American Indian/Alaska Native children by 7 percentage points) may frame kinship care support as a racial equity issue in future legislative debates.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The resolution recognizes and advocates for support of kinship caregivers—primarily grandparents and relatives—who provide essential care for vulnerable children while saving the public substantial costs. It calls for improved access to resources and support services for these families, which would benefit both the children and caregivers involved.