National Foster Care Month Resources

Young people who are preparing to leave foster care should feel in control as they plan for what's next. Whether youth leave foster care through the achievement of legal permanency or by transitioning to adulthood and independence without a permanent family, their path toward a better future will be supported by the collaborative work of child welfare and related professionals to connect them to lasting relationships, concrete supports, and opportunities while they are in care. Starting conversations about the future in the early teenage years and continuing throughout a youth's time in foster care can help them build a strong foundation that will unlock possibilities for future success. 

Below are resources that highlight an array of strategies that child welfare professionals can use to holistically support youth leaving care. They include an emphasis on relational permanency, a focus on mental health, and the importance of tapping into federally funded programs that can help open the door to safe and stable housing, health care, education, job training, and other necessary supports.