Social Workers Support Children and Youth in Foster Care

May 26, 2011

May is National Foster Care Month, a time to raise awareness on the plight of children and youth in the foster care system. There are approximately 424,000 in foster care because their own families are in crisis and are unable to provide for their essential well-being. Nearly 30,000 young people age out of the foster care system each year. Social workers play critical roles in the lives of all of these vulnerable children and families.

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The National Association of Social Workers, with Casey Family Programs and other partner organizations, underscore the important work of social workers and the increasing need for a safe, stable and nurturing environment for children during National Foster Care Month.

National Foster Care Month highlights the need of children and youth who need to be in foster care until they can either safely reunite with their parents or establish other lifelong family connections. Social workers work with children, biological parents, foster parents, adoptive parents and kinship care to ensure the proper placement for all children in care.

NASW calls on all Americans to help make a difference in the life of at least one young child or young person in foster care. Please visit the National Foster Care Month website to find out how you can make a lasting difference in the lives of America’s child welfare involved children and families.

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