Rep. Clack offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 115.

A resolution commemorating May 2007 as Foster Care Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, There is nothing more precious to Michigan than the healthy growth and development of the young people who will determine the future direction of our state; and

Whereas, The family, serving as the primary source of love, identity, self-esteem and support, is the very foundation of our communities and our state; and

Whereas, In Michigan, there are more than 18,500 children and youth in the foster care system who are being provided a safe, secure and stable home environment along with the compassion and nurturing of a foster or relative foster family; and

Whereas, Foster families open their homes and hearts to children whose families are in crisis, thus they play a vital role in helping children and families heal, reconnect and launch children into successful adulthood; and

Whereas, Dedicated foster families frequently adopt foster children, resulting in a continual need for more foster families; and

Whereas, Many youth who reach their 18th birthday and  transition out of foster care are often without the ongoing support and guidance of caring adults; and

Whereas, Foster Care Awareness Month in the state of Michigan is an appropriate opportunity to thank the families who embrace the often thankless responsibility of providing a home and family to children in need of affection, love and security and to support the efforts of those who dedicate their time to children in and leaving foster care; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan must do more to improve the lives of children in foster care; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate May 2007 as Foster Care Awareness Month.  We encourage more citizens to volunteer their time to become a mentor to a child that is in foster care; and realize that the state of Michigan must do more to improve the lives of children in foster care.