National Foster Care Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and National Foster Care Awareness Month. Plus, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week runs through May 2-May 8. This year’s theme, Foster Care as a Support for Families, Not a Substitute for Parents, is marked by awareness and recognition of the important role and dedication of foster parents and the vast community of professionals, volunteers, educators, and family members who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections.

Jessica and Cheyenne Richmond’s Story

The Richmond Family shares their foster to adoption story in this powerful and heartwarming video.

Monet’s and Leah’s Story

‘Don’t give up’: A 19-year-old who aged out of the system finally gets adopted

Watch Video

Watch this heartwarming video of Monet’s and Leah’s story; credit WBAL-TV 11, Baltimore

Did You Know?

Nearly half of all children, particularly teens, have struggled with mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. Children who are adopted may be at even higher risk. As a result, adoptive families use clinical services at triple the rate reported by families formed by birth.

The 26,000 youth who age out of foster care each year struggle with many of these same issues and more, too often resulting in homelessness, unemployment and jail.

C.A.S.E. Counseling

C.A.S.E.’s counseling and specialized support improves outcomes for children and youth who are adopted or in foster care and their families, turning these statistics into success stories. learn more

C.A.S.E. Resources

Blog Post – Spotlight on Betty Rivers, C.A.S.E. Emerging Leader Shares Her Story learn more
Blog Post – Supporting Foster Parents through Their Loss and Grief learn more
Article – Mental Health Awareness: A Powerful Representation of What Goes On In Our Minds: A 16-year-old’s Perspective (read Zoe’s reflection of mental health and how, through her art, she chose to perceive the myriad of emotions that flood the brain. “The message I want people to get from this painting is even if you’re battling a mental health problem, it’s common.” learn more
In-Demand Webinar – Supporting Adoptive and Foster Families in the Time of COVID-19 learn more
In-Demand Webinar – Talking with Children in Foster Care About Adoption and Permanency learn more
In-Demand Webinar – Common Needs of Teenagers Who Are Adopted or Being Fostered and Jobs For Parents to Support Them learn more
In-Demand Webinar – What Prospective and Adoptive Families Should Know About FASD learn more
In-Demand Webinar – Too Many Losses Too Soon; Loss and Grief Among Foster and Adopted Children learn more
Publication – W.I.S.E. Up!(R) Powerbook for Children in Foster Care learn more

Additional Resources

Children’s Bureau Resource: Reflections: Stories of Foster Care Learn More
Children’s Bureau Resource: For Parents with Children and Youth in Out-of-Home Care learn more
Children’s Bureau Resource: For Foster Families learn more
Children’s Bureau Resources: View all
Magellan Health Care Upcoming Events: View PDF
Think of Us Resource: A National Town Hall with New Children’s Bureau Associate Commissioner – (This Town Hall is an opportunity for current and former foster youth to hear directly from the Associate Commissioner and learn about the support and priorities from this Administration. Guests: Hannah Bristol, White House Office of Public Engagement Aysha E. Schomburg, J.D, Associate Commissioner at the Children’s Bureau) view video

Foster Care Facts from FosterClub

LGBTQ Foster Youth are less likely to be placed with a family

More than 1/2 of foster children will reunify with their parent

Visit fosterclub.com to learn more

Help C.A.S.E. provide financial assistance for the families that need it most.
Please donate today!