WHEREAS, every child in Virginia needs the opportunity to grow and learn in a supportive, loving, safe home environment that preserves their family connections and community ties; and

WHEREAS, more than 178,000 children in Virginia reside in homes headed by non-parental relatives, and over 57,000 children are being raised by a relative with no parent present, highlighting the vital role of kinship caregivers across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, kinship caregiving occurs across all socioeconomic, educational, ethnic, and racial backgrounds, offering both profound opportunities and unique challenges for caregivers and the children in their care; and

WHEREAS, individuals and families who step forward to care for a relative’s child often make significant personal and financial sacrifices to provide stability, love, and continuity in times of crisis; and

WHEREAS, kinship families play a crucial role in strengthening and reconnecting families, often preventing children from entering the foster care system and enabling others to safely exit foster care and return to relatives; and

WHEREAS, through the efforts of foster, adoptive, and kinship parents, local departments of social services, child-serving organizations, and faith communities, the Commonwealth works to ensure children are safe, supported, and empowered to succeed; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 Virginia General Assembly Session unanimously passed historic legislation (HB39 and SB27) that strengthens support for kinship families by providing legal clarity, increasing stability, and enhancing permanency options for children and their birth families; and

WHEREAS, our Safe Kids, Strong Families initiative aims to transform the child welfare system by prioritizing family stability, reducing reliance on congregate care, and strengthening the workforce and services that support our most vulnerable children; and

WHEREAS, Virginia remains committed to celebrating the strengths of kinship families while addressing their ongoing needs, including access to support groups, resources, training, legal and financial guidance, and permanency planning; and

WHEREAS, Kinship Care Awareness Month reflects Virginia’s core values of family preservation, community responsibility, and the long-term well-being of children across the Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize September 2025, as KINSHIP CARE AWARENESS MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.