19900123 r-90-2RESOLUTION NO. R-90- 2
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FAIRFAX-FALLS CHURCH
UNITED WAY REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF A JOINT
SUBCOMMITTEE TO EVALUATE VIRGINIA'S FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM.
WHEREAS, there is an ever increasing number of children who
are the victims of physical, sexual, drug and alcohol abuse and who
as a result need specialized care and services, and
WHEREAS, the complex problems of babies born drug-addict~ ,
babies with AIDS or severe physical deformities, and difficult and
unmanageable adolescents require sophisticated, highly skilled,
well-trained foster parents, and
WHEREAS, the changing profile of children entering the foster
care system places greater demands on the capabilities of foster
parents and agency staff, and deserves the focus of our attention,
and
WHEREAS, staffing to meet the needs of foster care is provided
at higher than desirable ratios, and
WHEREAS, the average length of time in care in Virginia is
three times the national average of 18 months, and
WHEREAS, a decade ago there were 6,000 homes in Virginia
providing foster care, and as we enter the year 1990, there are
3,600 foster care homes in the Commonwealth, and
WHEREAS, two thirds of the localities in the Commonwealth
provide no training for foster parents despite the impact of social
~and economic conditions such as drug abuse, sexual abuse, AIDS and
homelessness upon the foster care populations,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Fairfax
supports the United Way's request of the General Assembly to
appoint a joint subcommittee to evaluate and make recommendations
regarding the delivery of foster care in Virginia including more
emphasis on early intervention to reduce the numbers of children
needing to be placed in Foster Care; specifically defined
responsibilities for foster parents and reimbursement to support
those responsibilities; the coordination and funding of support
systems necessary for an effective foster care program; incentives
which can be provided to localities to encourage participation in
the training of foster care parents in Court Appointed Special
Advocate programs and in the provision of respite care for foster
families, and the exploration of alternatives to foster care
families in localities experiencing severe shortages of foster care
providers.
Adopted this 23rd day of January
, 1990.
C rk