May 11 – National Foster Care Month

During May, the local departments of social services celebrate National Foster Care Month, recognizing and promoting the efforts to enhance the lives of children and youth in foster care.

This year’s National Foster Care Month theme is “Get to Know the Many Faces of Foster Care”. We want to highlight the diversity of the children, youth, and families involved in child welfare. This year’s theme also draws attention to the fact that permanency is just as diverse as the people involved. Permanency can mean kinship care, guardianship, or lifelong permanent connections.

The Lower Shore needs families and homes to assist with sibling groups and teens in care. We are also in need of several homes to provide short-term emergency placement when a child is removed from their home.

More information is available on the following websites:

The Children’s Bureau’s National Foster Care Month: https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/

Maryland Department of Human Resources: http://www.dhr.state.md.us/blog/?page_id=4800

Both sites provide resources for youth and foster parents, communities, and professionals; State-specific foster care information; real-life stories from families, youth, foster parents, and caseworkers; and tools to promote National Foster Care Month.

For more information, contact Jami Truitt jami.truitt@maryland.gov or 410.677.6849