Why Foster Care Awareness Month Matters

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the more than 390,000 children and teens living in foster care in the United States. This important month not only honors the caregivers and professionals supporting these youth but also sheds light on the challenges they face every day. From frequent moves and school disruptions to feelings of isolation and uncertainty, the foster care system is filled with obstacles many people don’t see.

Foster Care Awareness Month brings these realities into the public conversation. It gives children in foster care a voice and calls attention to the urgent need for better support, stability, and long-term solutions. Many people are unaware of the facts about foster care: that most children enter the system due to abuse or neglect, that siblings are often separated, and that teens who age out without a permanent home are at increased risk for homelessness, incarceration, and unemployment. Understanding these facts about foster care is the first step in changing the outcomes for these youth.

But awareness alone is not enough—action is essential. Foster Care Awareness Month provides the perfect opportunity for individuals, families, and communities to step up and make a difference.

Here are a few ways you can become an advocate:

• Educate yourself and others: Learn the facts about foster care and share them through social media, conversations, or community events.
• Support organizations that help foster youth: Donate, volunteer, or host a drive to collect items for children in care.
• Become a mentor: Kids in foster care need positive, stable adult relationships. Becoming a mentor can change a life.
• Speak up: Advocate for policy changes that protect and prioritize the well-being of children in foster care.
• Consider fostering: If you’re able, opening your home to a child in need can provide the love and stability they deserve.

Foster Care Awareness Month reminds us that every child deserves safety, love, and opportunity. By spreading awareness and taking meaningful steps to support children in foster care, we can all play a part in creating a brighter future.

Because behind every statistic is a child who simply wants to feel seen, supported, and safe.