National Foster Care Awareness Month

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Children and youth can be placed in foster care for a myriad of reasons: abandonment, incarceration or death of family, neglect, abuse, or voluntary placement of family is unable to care for them. The goal of foster care is ultimately reunification with the child’s family if possible. When parents, grandparents, or other willing next of kin are not willing or available to care for a child the parental rights may be terminated by the state leaving the child in need of a guardian. Children can be placed in long term foster care or with adoptive families who have been trained and matched to them. 

Here are some National statistics about foster care:

There are over 391,000 children and youth in foster care.More than 23,000 children will age out of the US foster care system every year.After reaching the age of 18, 20% of the children who were in foster care will become instantly homeless Only 1 out of every 2 foster kids who age out of the system will have some form of gainful employment by the age of 24.There is less than a 3% chance for children who have aged out of foster care to earn a college degree at any point in their life.

The scriptures of the Old and New Testament equate caring for the fatherless and orphans as an act of justice:

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. (Isaiah 1:17)

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. (Psalm 82:3)

You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. (Exodus 22:22)

When we look at the amount of need it can be overwhelming to consider the impact we can make on the lives of children and youth in foster care. We have likely been led to think that the only way to get involved  is to foster or adopt a child(ren). The reality is there are many ways we can support those in the foster care system that don’t involve bringing a child into our home if we are not equipped or able to do so. 

Here are some ways we can participate in seeking Justice for these children in need:

  • Mentor a child or youth in foster care 

  • Get licensed to provide respite care. Respite care gives foster parents temporary relief from caregiving, allowing them to recharge and spend time with their families.

  • Donate funds or supplies. Often children and youth are removed from their homes and placed into foster care without many belongings. Donate toiletries, new clothing, or bedding to a local agency.

  • Become a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer As a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer, you’re empowered by the courts to advocate on behalf of a child in foster care.

  • Consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent

Whatever your availability, we all can have a part to play in caring for those most vulnerable in our communities. Prayerfully consider how you can make an impact. To find our how you can get involved find a local agency to partner with to help children in foster care https://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/

-Sheena