May is National Foster Care Month

Each May, the Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services salutes the compassionate people who make a difference by serving as parents, relative caregivers, mentors, advocates, social workers, and volunteers to children in foster care. Because of their commitment, many foster children and teens will safely reunite with their parents, be cared for by relatives, or be adopted by loving families.

National Foster Care Month, however, also is a time to focus on the unmet needs of those children in foster care who are at risk of being raised without a lifelong family. Most communities across the country are seeking people to help youth overcome their troubled childhoods and realize their full potential. No matter what their age, every young person in foster care benefits from a meaningful connection to a caring adult who becomes a supportive and lasting presence in his or her life.

There are an estimated 12 million foster care alumni in the United States, representing all walks of life. Behind this statistic are countless stories of former foster youth who are now thriving as adults. The difference between triumph and tragedy for a youth in care can be someone who takes the time to offer comfort, provide support, give advice, or simply share a milestone moment with a youngster enduring a difficult family situation. Read stories of foster care alumni here.

Now is the time to get involved. No matter how much time you have to give, you have the power to do something positive that will change a lifetime for a young person in foster care. Visit the National Foster Care Month website to learn how.