National Spotlight on Needs of 542,000 Kids in Care
Parents, Advocates, Political Leaders, Celebrities Raise Awareness

(Seattle, WA, April 5, 2004) -- There are 542,000 reasons to get involved. They live in your community, attend the local school, and worship at the neighborhood house of faith. This May, National Foster Care Month spotlights the needs of children and youth in foster care and honors the compassionate people who make a real and lasting difference in their lives.

Currently, over half a million American children are not living at home because of distressing family situations often involving abuse or neglect. That number has doubled since 1987. Nearly half of the youth in foster care are over the age of 10.

With outstretched arms and open hearts, 170,000 foster families provide loving homes for children when their own parents are unable to care for them. Foster families offer much more than the temporary shelter of four walls and a roof. They take on one of the greatest challenges our society generates: restoring a sense of hope and stability in the lives of young people whose families are in crisis.

Too often, the inspirational stories of these caring individuals are left untold. The role of a foster parent is intensive and requires many personal sacrifices. National Foster Care Month recognizes the many supportive people: foster and kinship families, professionals and volunteers who help young people in care achieve their fullest potential despite their difficult circumstances.

Victoria Rowell is one such success story. Rowell, a versatile television and film actress, is best known for her role on the CBS daytime drama, The Young and The Restless. Growing up, she spent 18 years in foster care, which inspired her to become a passionate advocate for other children like herself. She credits her foster mother Agatha with setting her life's course: "She instilled in me the confidence to reach for the stars by showing me what was possible," said Rowell. "I was fortunate. Too many youth in foster care, especially teenagers, go without a nurturing adult influence that is so necessary in preparing for the future."

Rowell will share her story and gratitude at two highlighted events during National Foster Care Month. She will address 400 foster parents as the keynote speaker at the "Golden Heart Awards Gala" on Thursday, May 13, 2004 at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan, an event sponsored by the New York City Administration for Children's Services. As the founder of the Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan, she will host her charity's star-studded "High Tea at Noon" benefit at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunday, May 16, 2004. Ms. Rowell's charity provides cultural, athletic and job opportunities to foster youth.

"Our goal is to encourage more people to come forward and help 'foster our future' -- either as foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways," said Karl Brown of Casey Family Programs and chair of National Foster Care Month.

The campaign promotes Five Ways to Get Involved:

1. Be a foster parent. Every jurisdiction in the country has experienced a shortage of foster homes. There is a particular need to find families for adolescents and sibling groups. National Foster Parent Association, www.nfpainc.org
   
   
2. Honor a foster parent. Attend or organize a recognition event to express appreciation for foster parents, social workers and others who make a difference in the lives of children. Consider making a donation to a local foster care agency as another way to show support. National Foster Care Month toolkit, www.fostercaremonth.org
   
   
3. Be a volunteer child advocate. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are trained citizens appointed by judges to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. National CASA Association, www.nationalcasa.org
   
   
4. Mentor a youth. Mentors make a difference. Research shows that children and youth with mentors earn higher grades and report improved relationships with their friends and families. National Mentoring Partnership, www.mentoring.org
   
   
5. Hire a young person. Help a youth in foster care explore career options and find a job. YouthBuild U.S.A., www.youthbuild.org
   
   

Coast to coast there are hundreds of planned events and grassroots activities. For example, the National Foster Parent Association's Ribbon Ceremonies will be held across the nation during the first week in May. These ceremonies will feature foster parents, political and other community leaders tying blue ribbons onto trees in public spaces as visual reminders of every child in care. "We want these kids to know that they have someone on their side," said Brown.

You can make a difference in a child's life. For more information on how to get involved, call (800) 557-5238 or visit www.fostercaremonth.org.

National Foster Care Month is a joint effort of Casey Family Programs and the National Resource Center for Foster Care and Permanency Planning at the Hunter College School of Social Work, a Service of the Children's Bureau; in conjunction with Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services; Black Administrators in Child Welfare; Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Child Welfare League of America; Connect for Kids; APHSA/National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators; National Association of Social Workers; National CASA; National Foster Care Coalition; and the National Foster Parent Association.

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