National Foster Care Month can be a time to raise awareness about the children and families who are affected by foster care and highlight ways individuals can offer support. Throughout the month of May, many organizations recognize the vital role professionals, caregivers, and community members across the child welfare system play in supporting children, youth, and families. With more than 365,000 children and youth in foster care in the United States (Child Welfare Information Gateway, n.d.), National Foster Care Month serves as an opportunity to uplift the voices of those with lived experiences, promote permanency and well-being for youth and families, and strengthen the support systems that help young people thrive and transition successfully into adulthood.
What is Foster Care?
Foster care is a temporary living arrangement for children whose parents are unable to care for them and whose situation has come to the attention of child welfare agencies. During their time in foster care, children may live with relatives, with foster families, or in group facilities. The primary goal of foster care is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home environment for children until they can be safely reunited with their parent or primary caregiver. When reunification with biological or primary parents and caregivers is not possible, the focus for foster care shifts to securing a permanent home for children through adoption or another long-term solution. Nearly half of the children who enter the foster care system return to their parent or a primary caregiver; however, despite ongoing efforts to achieve permanency, approximately 20,000 young people who are 18 to 21 years old, depending on their state’s laws, age out of the foster care system each year without being connected to a permanent family (The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).
Three Ways You Can Support National Foster Care Month
Connect with a national foster care support organization or a local agency.
Most communities throughout the United States have state-run or community-based agencies that support children and families in the foster care system. These organizations often host informational meetings, fundraisers, clothing or supply drives, and special events to support and celebrate foster care families and children. Use the websites, listed below, to help you find an agency or organization to get involved with.
- Search for state agencies near you on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website at https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/states-territories-tribes/related-organizations/
- Visit the National Foster Parent Association at https://nfpaonline.org/
- Visit the National Foster Youth Institute at https://nfyi.org/
Volunteer your time.
Volunteers are needed to support children and families who are involved in the foster care system. Volunteer opportunities may include providing mentorship to children through programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, providing respite care for foster parents who need short-term care for a foster child, or advocating on a child’s behalf through organizations such as the National Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children (CASA/GAL). Volunteers may be required to participate in training and obtain background checks prior to interacting with children. Contact a local child welfare agency to learn about volunteer needs, and search for volunteer opportunities within national organizations at the websites listed below.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: https://www.bbbs.org/
- CASA/GAL: https://nationalcasagal.org/advocate-for-children/
Become a foster parent.
Foster parents are individuals or families who have been approved by the state in which they reside to provide temporary care for children who cannot safely remain with their biological families. Each state sets its own licensing requirements, which can include background checks, home inspections, and training. Typically, foster parents receive a stipend or reimbursement to help cover the costs of caring for the child. In addition to meeting daily, physical, and safety needs, foster parents offer emotional support, guidance, and stability. They often partner with child welfare professionals and biological families to support reunification when possible. Foster parents usually receive ongoing training and support to help them through the process.
- Search for the contact information for your local child welfare agency at https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/states-territories-tribes/related-organizations
Disclaimer: The inclusion of websites and organizations listed within this blog are for informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement.
References
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (n.d.). National foster care month. https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/
The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2024, April 7). Foster care explained: What it is, how it works and how it can be improved. https://www.aecf.org/blog/what-is-foster-care
