National Foster Care Month
Every day, more than 460,000 children and youth are living in foster care because their own parents are unable to care for them. Communities must address the needs of these children, who need a stable and secure family until they can either return to their parents or establish a lifelong connection to a nurturing adult through adoption or guardianship.
Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity for people nationwide to get involved as foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers, or in other ways. It’s also an opportunity to show our appreciation for the dedicated families who care for these children and youth, and the social workers who support them. Foster Care Month originated in 1988 when the National Foster Parent Association persuaded then-Senator Strom Thurmond to introduce a resolution to proclaiming May as National Foster Care Month. The first President Bush issued a proclamation during each year of his presidency, providing an impetus for state, county, and city proclamations. Over the years, National Foster Care Month has grown to involve 17 national organizations – including the Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services – that focus not only on raising the visibility of foster care, but also on conducting outreach and recruitment to increase the number of individuals and organizations engaged in supporting children and families. The partners continue to seek permanent, loving families for children in foster care – by reuniting them safely with their parents, locating relatives who can support their growth, or connecting them with adoptive families. National Foster Care Month partners include:
- Casey Family Programs;
- the 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;
- Children’s Rights;
- Child Welfare League of America;
- Foster Care Alumni of America;
- Foster Family-Based Treatment Association;
- FosterClub;
- Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative;
- APHSA/National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators;
- National Association of Social Workers;
- National Association of State Foster Care Managers;
- National CASA;
- National Foster Care Coalition;
- the National Foster Parent Association;
- National Indian Child Welfare Association;
- National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning at the Hunter College School of Social Work;
- Orphan Foundation of America; and
- Voices for America’s Children.
Learn More
- Visit the National Foster Care Month Web site to find local events and discover how you can change a child’s life.
- Find out the Real Deal on Foster Care and Adoption.