21 Years of National Foster Care Awareness Month
Yes, 21 years ago Senator Strom Thurmond was encouraged by the National Foster Care Association to proclaim May as National Foster Care Awareness Month. I'm kind of a nerd so I love fun facts. Two years ago, I won two tickets to dinner and a movie from my foster care agency for knowing this one. The lesson...sometimes it pays to be nerdy.
This month all over the country different agencies celebrate and honor foster parents, but there is a larger goal. To motivate more Americans to step up and help the 513,000 children in foster care. There is always a need for foster parents. Especially since more foster parents are adopting their foster children. This means states are losing beds in which to place future foster children.
If you've ever considered fostering, May is the perfect month to check it out.
If you are a foster parent, what would you want those considering it to know? Or, if you are considering fostering, what do you want to know? Click "comments" below and let's start a discussion.
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Related Reading:All About National Foster Care Month
The History of National Foster Care Month
Daily Activities to Celebrate National Foster Care Month
Is Foster Parenting for You?
Comments
As a foster dad for the past 7 years, the reward of fostering is un-measurable! It can be a difficult duty at times but knowing that you made a difference in a child’s life is the best!
One thing that everyone should know is that almost anyone can foster. Single, both work full time, retired… Foster kids need a safe loving home!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! It’s especially great to hear from a foster dad.
Did you always want to foster or did you have to talked into it?
My name is nicole and i love kids i have 4 of them myself ages 9 to 7months and i love them so much i would love to share our love as a family with another child. Thanks and God Bless
Foster parenting can be the most rewarding experience any adult can experience. Unfortunately….
Last week, my husband and I sat in court and listened to our foster child’s biological mother accuse us of neglecting her child, physically abusing her child, and lying about the child’s visitation schedule.
For all of the love we provided to our foster child, we are highly disappointed in our courts entertaining a biological mother with severe mental illness and the paranoid delusions she has concerning us. Even though Children and Youth Services told us afterwards that no one in court believed her stories, this child was returned to her; a woman who cannot even thank the people who cared for her child for more than two years.
I praise foster parents; as I praise the work we have done with our foster child; however, the hurt we have felt has been more than one should have to endure. We will not do this again.
Amy,
Know that you are not alone. I completely hear you. This year was not kind to us either when it comes to foster parenting. I am very interested in hearing how your family protected yourselves…..this is a big need in foster care. Our documentation and our reputation is what helped us.