HM 20 — "FOSTER PARENT & ADVOCATE DAY"

HOUSEA MEMORIAL 20DECLARING 54THMARCH LEGISLATURE1, -2019 STATE"FOSTER OFPARENT NEWAND MEXICOADVOCATE -DAY" FIRSTIN SESSION,THE 2019HOUSE INTRODUCEDOF BYREPRESENTATIVES. Rebecca Dow and Kelly K.

Fajardo5 andWHEREAS, Patriciohundreds Ruilobaof 6New 8Mexicans 10serve Aas MEMORIALfoster DECLARINGcare MARCHparents 1,to 2019children "FOSTERwho PARENTare ANDremoved ADVOCATEfrom DAY"their INhomes, THEthrough HOUSEno OFfault REPRESENTATIVES.of their own, because the homes are not safe places for them;

14and WHEREAS, hundreds of New Mexicans serve as foster care parents toprovide childrenunconditional wholove, arecare removedand fromcommitment theirto homes,displaced throughchildren; no fault of their own, because the homes are not safe places e t 17 for them;

and wWHEREAS, laccording nto dthe 18children, WHEREAS,youth fosterand carefamilies parentsdepartment, providein unconditionalfiscal love,year =2018, =there 19were atwo lthousand carefive andhundred commitmentthirty-one tochildren displacedin children;foster care;

and i a e r 20 WHEREAS, accordingfoster tocare theparents children,participated youth and families a t m m 21 department, in fiscalthree year 2018, there were two thousand five d r e 22 hundred thirty-oneeleven childrenfinalized inadoptions; foster care;

and c e s k 23 WHEREAS, foster care parents participatedare inready threeto hundredreceive ea child at a nmoment's bnotice, 24without elevenany finalizedprevious adoptions;knowledge or information about the child or for how long the child will need their care;

and u [ WHEREAS, foster care parents are ready to receive a child .212881.1 at a moment's notice, without any previous knowledge or information about the child or for how long the child will need their care;

and WHEREAS, foster care parents open their homes and their hearts to children who need love and support, while HM 20 Page 1 respecting and fostering connections to the children's culture, religion and community;

and e e 17 WHEREAS, foster care parents have the joy and privilege of e e n d 18 parenting and learning from children who did not decide to be = = l ] 19 placed under the state's care, but like all children, have so a l r i 20 much to offer;

t e a t NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF m m 21 e d r e 22 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 1, 2019 c e r c 23 be declared "Foster Parent and Advocate Day" in the house of e a n b 24 representatives;

and u [ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be .212881.1 - 2 - transmitted to the secretary of children, youth and families.

-HM 3 - 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 e e 17 e e n d 18 = = l ] 19 a l r i 20 tPage e2 a25 t m m 21 e d r e 22 c e r c 23 e a n b 24 u [ .212881.1