Community Engagement

Honoring and recognizing National Foster Care Month is an important part of keeping the needs of children and youth in foster care in the minds of the public. Child welfare professionals, parents, youth, caregivers, and community members should lead this work by getting involved and becoming partners in the community so that the foster care system can act as a support to families and help promote positive outcomes. Take time to browse this page for contact information for State officials and other State-specific foster care information and to view past proclamations issued by various levels of government. View a list of community-based programs that are promoting positive outcomes for families through community involvement and support.

Check out the virtual events on the Facebook events tab and use the outreach tools to highlight support systems for youth and families. Add the shareable graphics to your websites, blogs, newsletters, emails, social media pages, and other digital communications to help raise awareness in your hometown!

Foster care contacts in your community
Sample foster care month proclamations
State and local examples

Foster Care Contacts in Your Community

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Sample Foster Care Month Proclamations

Reaching out to State and local leaders to request a proclamation is a great way to spread awareness and make a difference! Whether it’s done through an official decree or ceremonial announcement, take these steps to help build awareness for National Foster Care Month in your community.

Contact your State or local officials to make an official request
Provide key facts and statistics to demonstrate why this issue should be given attention
Share the sample proclamations on this page to help leaders identity key messaging to use when discussing this very important issue

Federal

White House (2020)
President Donald Trump proclaims May 2020 as National Foster Care Month.

State

Alaska (2020)
Governor Mike Dunleavy proclaims May 2020 as Foster Parent Appreciation Month.

North Carolina (2020) (PDF - 1,600 KB)
Governor Roy Cooper proclaims May 2020 as Foster Care Month.

North Dakota (2020) (PDF - 73 KB)
Governor Doug Burgum proclaims May 2020 as Children’s Foster Care Month.

Tennessee (2020) (PDF - 501 KB)
Governor Bill Lee proclaims May 2020 as Foster Care Month.

Wisconsin (2020) (PDF - 4,220 KB)
Governor Tony Evers proclaims May 2020 as Foster Care Month.

Local

Fairfax County, VA (2020)
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaims May 2020 as Foster Care and Foster Family Recognition Month.

Lake County, OH (2020) (PDF - 361 KB)
The Lake County Board of Commissioners proclaims May 2020 as Foster Parent Recognition Month.

Mesa County, CO (2020)
The Mesa County Board of Commissioners proclaims May 2020 as Foster Parent Appreciation Month.

Palm Beach County, FL (2020)
The Palm Beach County Commissioner Greg Weiss proclaims May 2020 as National Foster Care, Speak Up for Kids, and Guardian Ad Litem Month

Wyoming County, NY (2020) (PDF - 6 KB)
The Wyoming County Board of Supervisors proclaims May 2020 as Foster Care Month.

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State and Local Examples

Check out how parents and youth are partnering with these child welfare agencies and using their voice to create a healthy and thriving community.

Parents for Parents
Children’s Home Society of Washington
Provides outreach, education, and mentoring support to parents who are involved with the child welfare system so they can work toward reunification.

Very Outstanding Individual Citizens Empowering the State (V.O.I.C.E.S)
Children’s Home + Aide Society of Illinois
Describes a program that advocates for the needs of youth in out-of-home care and helps children and youth develop life skills throughout the State of Illinois.

Youth Support Partners
Allegheny County
Focuses on educating and empowering youth currently involved in the child welfare system to bring their voice to the forefront during every phase of service development and provision to effect positive change for individuals and systems.

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