May is a busy month with lots of celebrations–Mother’s Day, graduation, weddings and end-of-school events. May is also National Foster Care Month. It's a time to advocate for children in foster care and help raise awareness in the community of the needs of foster families.
As a foster parent, I have learned the truth of the saying “it takes a village to raise a child.” In fact, that truth is magnified for children in foster care. Children in foster care come with a "village" of social workers, counselors, Guardians ad Litem, and nurses. Children in foster care also come with hurt, trauma, and wounds in need of healing. The wounds cannot be healed by state employees alone. The children need the love of a family and the love of a community to surround them--a community that will answer the call to join the village of professional support and parents.
A foster child has lost the only village they have ever known. There are many ways to become a new village for a child and their foster family. Here are just some of the ways my family have has received support while fostering:
- My church family has brought meals to my home when I have received placements.
- The civic organization down the road collected emergency supply kits. When two teens were placed in my home, I did not have to run to get basic supplies like deodorant.
- The accountant across town collected school supplies to give to a second grader in my home when she transferred schools in October.
- A teacher calmed a child's anxiety with kind words.
- My parents have babysat, so I can attend court sessions.
- A friend passed clothing down to my child and took the time to call her by name and give her a hug.
At Fostering Hope Catawba, our goal is to “Be the Village” to children in foster care in Catawba County. Fostering Hope Catawba wants to help support the physical, emotional and mental needs of children in foster care and the families surrounding them. People often ask how they can help children in foster care if they are not able to be foster parents in this season in life. Fostering Hope Catawba wants to give everyone an opportunity to “Be the Village."
It is interesting that National Foster Care Month is May. May is a month in which many life seasons are celebrated. When you answer the call to "be the village," your life takes on many new seasons as well. At the moment, I am in the season of being a foster parent. But, if that season should come to a close, it does not mean I am done serving children in foster care. It means I have taken on a different season in my village work. Whatever season you are in, you have the opportunity to serve children in foster care. For more information on ways you can “Be the Village,” contact Fostering Hope Catawba: email us at or find us on Facebook.
Some other resources from Hickory-W Piedmont Macaroni Kid on Foster Care:
Adopting from Foster Care: 6 Things to Know
Become a Foster Parent... Change a Life
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