WHEREAS, Foster parents assist the Department of Children, Youth and Families in implementing its child care responsibilities, and share in the duty to protect and safeguard the well-being of children in their care; and

WHEREAS, Foster parents assist DCYF in its mission to assist foster children to become productive members of society, and to promote, safeguard and protect the overall well-being of culturally diverse children and youth; and

WHEREAS, Foster parents and their families are an invaluable resource to foster children and their families; and

WHEREAS, DCYF is appreciative of the work and dedication of all its foster parents; and

WHEREAS, Foster parents also assist in the agency's mission of permanency for a foster child when the natural family is unable to do so; and

WHEREAS, Foster parents are committed to play a meaningful part in a child's life; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in recognition of the outstanding service to the foster children of Rhode Island by the foster parents, does hereby proclaim, from this time on, the month of May as Rhode Island "Foster Parent Appreciation Month" in honor of their hard work and dedication; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Foster Parent Association.