National Foster Care Month is observed each May and provides an opportunity for people all across the nation to focus attention on the year-round needs of American children and youth in foster care.

National Fost Care Month raises awareness about foster care and encourages many more citizens to get involved in the lives of these youth – whether as their foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways.

National Foster Care Month goals are to: Raise awareness about the magnitude of the issue and the urgent and sustaining needs of children and older youth in foster care and their families; issue a national call-to-action that motivates, inspires and facilitates many more Americans to come forward and help change a lifetime for a young person in foster care; and, develop a positive framework for maintaining visibility and interest in the foster care issue to support the year-round efforts of the National Foster Care Month Partner organizations and other child welfare agencies.

National Foster Care Month also provides an opportunity for acknowledging the thousands of dedicated foster families and other caring individuals and organizations who are already supporting these young people.