HomeMy WebLinkAbout160901 - Grandfamily-Kinship Care MonthGRANDFAMILY/KINSHIP CARE MONTH
SEPTEMBER 2016
WHEREAS, this year during the month of September, Grandfamily/Kinship Care Month is observed,
Fountain Hills, Arizona is proud to recognize the children and their grandparents and other relatives who
raise them in kinship care and who ensure their safety, promote their well-being and establish a stable
household for these young people to thrive; and
WHEREAS, nationally 2.7 million children are living with grandparents and other relatives in kinship care of
which over 104,715 caregivers reside in Arizona; and
WHEREAS, relationships with family are crucial for children, it is our responsibility to promote and preserve
kinship, sibling, and other familial connections for children In Arizona; and
WHEREAS, Arizonans join to honor famous kinship caregivers such as President George Washington, as well
those grandparents and relatives residing in urban, rural and suburban households in every county of
Arizona who "famously" step forward out of love and loyalty to care for relatives when the child's biological
parents are no longer able to do so; and
WHEREAS, Arizonans join to honor famous youth who were raised in kinship care such as Maya Angelou,
Sandra Day O'Conner, and Barack Obama as well as those children residing in urban, rural and suburban
households in every county of Arizona who, through the unconditional support of grandparents and other
relatives, have successfully addressed the emotional trauma of losing their parents; and
WHEREAS, the public becomes increasingly aware of the challenges faced by children, grandparents, and
other relative caregivers providing care in partnership with the education, legal, social services, mental
health, justice and other systems to access services that can enable kinship youth to flourish in all facets of
their life; and
WHEREAS, nationally Grandfamilies/Kinship Caregivers save tax payers more than 6.5 billion dollars a year;
and
WHEREAS, one In eleven of all children and one in five Black children will live within a kinship famlly
sometime during their childhood, kinship care provides the best opportunity to retain the child's cultural
heritage and community ties.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Linda M. Kavanagh, Mayor of the Town of Fountain of Hills, Arizona, do hereby
proclaim the month of September 2016 as GRANDFAMILV/KINSHIP CARE MONTH In Fountain Hills.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the official seal of the Town
Of Fountain Hills, Maricopa County, Arizona this 1" dayof September, 2026.
Linda lylM. . Kavana ,Mayor
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