[NancyAshe]

Foster care is defined as "24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility, whether or not the placement is licensed or payments are made."

There are more than half a million children in foster care in the U.S., and it's estimated that 48 percent live in family foster homes.

This month is a time to

- recognize foster parents and child welfare workers;
- build awareness of the pressing need for foster families, the importance of keeping siblings together and keeping kids in their communities;
- bring to the forefront of policy dialog the need for programs to help foster youth transition to independent living.

Advocacy Tool Kit

Casey Family Programs is hosting the National Foster Care Month Web site (http://www.fostercaremonth.org/) and they've put together information that includes:

- the month's goals, messages, and partners,
- tools to get involved and work with the media,
- media kit including customizable letters, and
- a calendar of events across the U.S. (by state).

The Need for Foster Parents

If you've considered becoming a foster parent, here's some information to get you started:
- Becoming a Foster Parent
- State Foster Care Specialists
- Who are the children?
and check the full index for those considering foster parenting for information about required classes, foster care rates, and more at http://fosterparenting.com.