May Is National Foster Care Awareness Month
Every child has the right to feel safe and loved in a stable home. For so many children across the country, foster care offers a lifeline—a chance to find comfort and hope during difficult times. May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, an opportunity for communities, individuals, and organizations to come together to support children in care, celebrate the families who foster, and raise awareness of the ongoing challenges in the foster care system.
This month is a call to action—for prospective foster parents, community members, and child welfare advocates—to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Below, we’ll explore the current state of foster care, share ways to get involved, and introduce how Families United Network is leading efforts to improve the lives of children in care.
Understanding Foster Care in Numbers
National Statistics on Foster Care
At any given time, more than 400,000 children are in the U.S. foster care system. These children enter foster care for a variety of reasons, including neglect, abuse, and the inability of their families to provide a safe environment.
While nearly 50% are eventually reunited with their biological families, there remains a significant need for dedicated foster parents to care for children during this transitional period. Unfortunately, each year, around 20,000 youths age out of foster care without finding a permanent home, leaving them vulnerable to challenges like homelessness, unemployment, and a lack of support systems.
Foster Care in Pennsylvania
Here in Pennsylvania, the numbers tell a similar story. According to the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN), there are approximately 14,000 children in foster care across the state. Of these, many are school-aged children and teens who face unique social and emotional challenges.
The need for foster families in Pennsylvania is urgent, especially for sibling groups, teenagers, and children with special needs. For those considering becoming foster parents, now is the time to take that first step.
National Foster Care Awareness Month – A Time to Make an Impact
May is a month to highlight the resilience of foster children, the dedication of foster families, and the importance of community efforts.
What can you do? Opening your heart and home to a child in foster care is one of the most impactful acts of kindness an individual can offer.
How You Can Help a Child This May
Become a Foster Parent Through Families United Network
If you’ve been considering fostering, your support is needed now more than ever. Families United Network helps guide prospective foster parents through the process, ensuring they receive the training, resources, and support they need to provide a stable and loving environment.
- What is required to become a foster parent?
Families United Network works with individuals and families of all backgrounds. If you have a desire to help children and meet basic eligibility requirements, you’re already taking the first step!
- Training and Support
Families United Network offers comprehensive training programs for foster parents, covering everything from trauma-informed care to effective parenting strategies. You’ll also benefit from ongoing support from caseworkers who will walk beside you every step of the way.
Support Foster Children Without Fostering
Not everyone can foster, but everyone can contribute to the welfare of foster children. Here are some ways to make a difference this May through Families United Network and other avenues:
- Volunteer Your Time
Serve as a mentor, tutor, or advocate for foster youth. Volunteers provide emotional support, guidance, and a trusted role model.
- Donate Resources
Many foster families and children enter care with little more than the clothes on their backs. Donations of clothing, school supplies, and hygiene kits can have a huge impact.
- Raise Awareness
Use your voice and online platforms to spread the word about Foster Care Awareness Month. Share posts from Families United Network or create your own to highlight how others can get involved.
- Fundraise or Contribute
Financial donations provide critical resources for foster care organizations to continue their lifesaving work.
Join the Families United Network Community
Becoming part of the Families United Network community allows you to continuously engage with foster care efforts. Whether you become a mentor, foster parent, or advocate, you’ll be contributing to a brighter future for children in need.
Together, We Can Make a Difference
National Foster Care Awareness Month reminds us of the critical need to support foster children and families. Whether you choose to foster, volunteer, or donate, every effort counts toward creating a world where every child has the safe, happy home they deserve.
This May, take action. Start by reaching out to Families United Network to see how you can make an impact. Together, we can change lives, one child at a time.