In 1988, President Ronald Reagan declared the month of May as National Foster Care Month. It is a time dedicated to raising awareness and acknowledging those who are committed to making a difference in the life of a foster child.

Did you know?

• Nearly 430,000 children are in foster care in the U.S.
• Average age for foster children is 8 years old.
• Average time in foster care is 20 months.
•  61% of foster children are removed from their home because of neglect.

*According to the 2016 AFCARS Report

​It’s hard to know what living in foster care is really like if you’ve never had to experience it. There can be a lot of pain and confusion associated with it. As a young child, being removed from your home and placed into a new one can be traumatizing. Nothing happens on the child’s terms which can be extremely difficult for them to understand. They don’t get the same stability that other kids get. There are adults coming in and out of the child’s life and they don’t always have a place to call home. Most kids in foster care have experienced so much trauma at such a young age that it will possibly stay with them for the rest of their lives.

However, their past doesn’t define them. They are still kids who love to play sports, watch cartoons, and spend time with their friends at school. Even with the hardships they may face, they are still able to enjoy being a kid. There are so many people who are able to make a difference in a child’s life, including social workers, foster parents, teachers, and our CASA volunteers. So, for #NationalFosterCareMonth we want to honor those who play a key role in the lives of foster children and raise awareness of the needs of these children.

If you want to learn more about our CASA program, visit www.athensoconeecasa.org. Also check out Home in 5 and United Hope for Children for more ways to help children in foster care.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month; it is a time to celebrate the good things our communities
do to promote healthy child development, as well as a time to reflect on the work that still
remains. ​We all have a role to play in healthy child development, and our goal this April is to help others
recognize that role and the ways in which we can maximize our impact.  What are some things happening in our community that are promoting #GreatChildhoods? 
What are some areas you think we could improve? What can you do in your every day life to help #GreatChildhoods happen? Maybe it's simply helping a neighbor in a stressful situations, cooking a meal for a family welcoming a new child, or volunteering in the community.  One easy thing you can do is join us for Wear Blue Day on Friday, April 6th to raise awareness about Prevent Child Abuse Month.  Take a photo of your family or coworkers in blue and post to Fb, Instagram, or Twitter with the hashtag #WearBlue. Share a story of how you advocate for children, push for policies that keep kids safe, or donate time or money to a local child serving organization. Share our WearBlue Facebook event HERE. We hope to inspire others to get involved during Child Abuse Prevention Month.