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AJR 103

Designated May of each year as "Foster Care Month" in New Jersey.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tennille McCoy and 2 co-sponsors

Designates May as Foster Care Month in NJ and urges the Governor to issue an annual proclamation to raise awareness and honor foster youth, caregivers, and providers.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee
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Bill Summary · AJR 103

AJR 103 Summary — Foster Care Month in New Jersey

Overview

AJR 103 is a joint resolution introduced in the New Jersey General Assembly on February 1, 2024, and referred to the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee. The measure designates May of each year as “Foster Care Month” in New Jersey and requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing the month and encouraging observance by public officials and citizens. The resolution takes effect immediately.

Purpose and Intent

  • Elevate awareness of New Jersey’s foster care system and the more than 3,100 children and youth in care.
  • Honor and celebrate the work of child welfare professionals, foster parents, relative/kinship caregivers, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, and other community members who support foster youth.
  • Align New Jersey with broader national recognition through National Foster Care Month, which emphasizes family connections, relative and kinship caregiving, and statewide supports.

Key Provisions

  1. Designation: The month of May each year is designated as “Foster Care Month” in New Jersey to promote awareness and celebrate those who support foster youth.
  2. Proclamation: The Governor is respectfully requested to issue an annual proclamation designating May as Foster Care Month and to call on public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
  3. Effective Date: The joint resolution takes effect immediately.

Background and Context (as presented in the introduced version)

  • Foster care involves placing a minor in state-certified care settings or with approved family members, with costs typically covered by the state or a social service agency.
  • NJ foster care demographics (as of 2021): 3,188 children in foster care (down from 3,788 in 2020); racial/ethnic breakdown includes African-American (39%), Hispanic-American (27%), White-American (27%), and Asian-Pacific Islander (1%); 1,698 in non-relative foster homes and 1,282 in licensed kinship homes.
  • Placement trends: In 2020–2021, out-of-home placements supervised by the Department of Children and Families decreased by 13.5% (from 3,717 to 3,213), attributed to prevention and family-preservation efforts.
  • National context: National Foster Care Month is led by the U.S. federal Children’s Bureau to promote awareness, resources, and strategies for maintaining family connections and improving supports for relative caregivers.

Affected Parties

  • Children and youth in New Jersey’s foster care system.
  • Foster parents, kinship/relative caregivers, and prospective caregivers.
  • Child welfare professionals, social service agencies, and policymakers.
  • General public and local communities through observance and programs.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced in the Assembly; referred to the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee.
  • Action requested: Governor’s proclamation issued annually for Foster Care Month in May.
  • Timing: Observance begins each May, with immediate effect upon enactment of the resolution.

Related Legislation

  • Companion bill: SJR 82.

Fiscal Impact

  • No fiscal provision or appropriation is included in the introduced text; the measure is technical and symbolic, focusing on designation and proclamation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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