The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and Adoption STAR encourage you to celebrate foster parents and remember foster children in need of families.
From our friends at the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute:
This month marks the 27th anniversary of National Foster Care Month! Each May, we recognize the greater foster care community by raising awareness of U.S. foster care, encouraging those who have experienced the foster care system first-hand, and showing our support for the countless individuals, organizations and legislators working on behalf of the 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. Nearly 102,000 of those are waiting to be adopted. CCAI encourages you to join us this month as we celebrate those who work to make a positive difference in the lives of foster children and youth in need of loving families.
- Get Involved!
- Reach out to your Members of Congress and encourage them to cosponsor this year’s National Foster Care Month Resolution. Let them know that by cosponsoring they are making a public statement that foster children and youth matter! To locate the contact information for your Senators and Representative visit www.govtrack.us/congress/members. Congressional staff can contact CCAI’s Senior Director of Programs, Allison Coble, for more information (202-544-8500 or [email protected]).
- Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and use the hashtag #FosterCareMonth. For sample Facebook posts and tweets visit https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/promote/.
- Know someone who is a foster parent? Think about encouraging them by sending a thoughtful note or even a giftcard!
- Know someone who is a foster child or youth? Let them know you care by sharing helpful resources such as educational opportunities and their rights as a foster youth. Many of these resources can be located here. Also, connect them with organizations dedicated to helping foster children and youth, such as One Simple Wish and Fostering Change Network.
- Consider becoming a foster parent! Not quite sure where to begin? Check out these resources.
We are grateful for friends like you who believe that all children and youth deserve safe, permanent and loving families.