While we most definitely appreciate those of you who’ve answered the call to be foster parents ALL year, it’s important for the rest of us to understand why May is such an important month. Since its first proclamation by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, National Foster Care Month has been set aside each year to recognize foster parents, volunteers, community organizations, mentors, child welfare workers, and lawmakers who make it possible for children and teens in foster care to find forever homes.
The theme for National Foster Care Month 2019 and 2020 is, “Foster care as a support to families, not a substitute for parents.” It may come as a surprise to many that the main goal of the foster care system is not to take children away from their families. Rather, its goal is to have a safe and stable reunion of children with their families. While this has always been the goal of foster care, methods have evolved over time.
So, how does a child enter the foster care system? A typical first interaction with Child Protective Services might happen like this. A neighbor notices children playing outside, unattended at odd times of the day, such as during school hours or late at night. They may observe these children appearing unkempt or wearing the same clothes for multiple days. The neighbor now concerned calls CPS. CPS workers arrive at the home to find the parent(s) absent, or present but under the influence of a controlled substance. For the sake of the children’s safety, CPS may then bring the children to an emergency foster placement.
In many cases in years past, children who enter foster care would have little or no contact with their biological parents with the exception of court hearings. However, as workers and leaders in the foster care system have learned, children who have predictable, supervised contact with their biological parents experience far fewer negative side effects related to trauma. A biological parent (when safe to do so) can be present at mealtimes, bedtimes, for school performances, parent-teacher conferences, and sports games.
So, for this National Foster Care Month, we salute not only the tireless workers and foster parents, but also you biological parents who’ve worked so hard to overcome your struggles and become the moms and dads your kids need. You can do this. We believe in you!
