There are almost half a million children in foster care across the United States and more than 7,000 of those children are in Iowa. Children in the foster care system need love and support year-round, but May is a special opportunity to raise awareness for these children and the struggles they and the people who fight to support them face.
In 2018, the Family First Prevention Services Act was signed into law and it aims to restructure how the child welfare system is funded by prioritizing the placement of children with relatives when they cannot remain in their home. Unfortunately, appropriate relatives are not always available and that is where foster care comes in. Foster care is an invaluable resource for children who need to be temporarily removed from their homes while their parents work to address the issues that brought them into the system. Foster homes provide refuge, stability, and comfort to our most vulnerable population.
It’s an age-old cliché, but children are our future. When we invest in them and help provide opportunities for success, we are helping to ensure a brighter future for all of us.
5 Things to do During National Foster Care Month
- Wear your support
Wear light blue to show your support and raise awareness during National Foster Care Month. You can also order National Foster Care Month pins through FosterClub.com. - Spread the word
The National Foster Care Month website provides great information on this year’s theme and other ways you can show your support. Their outreach toolkit has downloadable graphics and banners that you can share on your social media, along with sample posts and messages you can share with colleagues, friends, family, and policy makers. - Donate
There are many local places where you can donate gently used items, food, and money that will benefit children in foster care, including:
Bidwell Riverside Center
Kaden’s ClosetFor Kids’ Sake
Zion Lutheran Church
Ellipsis
The Free Store
Young Women’s Resource Center
YSS - Volunteer
One great way to make an impact on children in the foster care system is by volunteering your most valuable resource: your time. Below is a list of some wonderful volunteer opportunities in the metro area:
Boys and Girls Club
Man Up Iowa Mentoring Program
YSS
Ellipsis
Young Women’s Resource Center
Bidwell Riverside Center - Become a foster parent
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about becoming a foster parent, now is a great time. There is a shortage of foster homes across the state. You don’t have to be extraordinary to do it. You just need to be able to provide the safe, stable, and loving home that these children deserve. Learn more here.