Dedicated to all the children in the U.S. foster care system, National Foster Care Day on the first Tuesday in May encourages everyone to wear blue and raise their voices to show their support for foster youth everywhere.
Kicking off Foster Care Month, National Foster Care Day provides a platform to help repair a system that is plagued with shortages nationwide. Many enter care with little to no belongings and have suffered the effects of abuse, poverty, neglect, or even the death of their loved ones. There is a nationwide shortage of foster parents and stipends that don’t cover the essentials of a growing child.
With over 400,000 children in the foster care system at any given time, and a new child placed into care every 2 minutes, the need for support services, essential items, and foster parents is high. Foster children have an uphill battle with startling statistics to overcome and need the support of our communities across the country. National Foster Care Day shines a light on these children and points us all in the direction of solutions.
Statistics
- 250,00 children enter foster care each year
- Only 50% of youth in foster care graduate high school
- Foster children suffer PTSD at more than twice the rate of US war veterans
- 1 in 5 foster children experience homelessness within 1 year of aging out of care
- At ages 17 & 18, one-third of young women in foster care are pregnant or parenting
- More than 70% of inmates incarcerated were at one point in the foster care system
- Stipends don’t cover the essentials of a growing child
How to Help
- Volunteer to become a Court appointed special advocate (CASA) – CASAs receive specialized training and represent the best interests of abused and neglected children.
- Become a Foster Parent – Nationwide, there is a shortage of licensed foster homes.
- Adopt a Foster Child – In the U.S., more than 100,000 children wait for a family to call home.
- Volunteer through non-profits like Project Blue, Ticket to Dream Foundation and many others that provide mentoring to foster children, require staffing assistance for events and many other opportunities!
- Share this page – Increasing awareness and interest in the solutions will help foster children heal and grow to their full potential.