National Foster Care Awareness Month 2026: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How You Can Help

Every May, something important happens across the country. Whole communities pause to focus on the children and young people who are growing up in foster care. At Let It Be Us, we see this month as both a celebration and a call to action, and as May 2026 approaches, the need for safe, stable homes in Illinois and beyond has never been more urgent.

National Foster Care Awareness Month is about more than statistics. It is about the children who carry their belongings in garbage bags because they were removed from their homes in the middle of the night. It is about the foster parents who said yes at 2 a.m. when a caseworker called. And it is about everyone who believes that every child deserves to grow up in a family that supports them.

Whether you are already familiar with the foster care system or just beginning to learn about it, this month offers a meaningful opportunity to understand what is happening, who is affected, and what you can do about it.

What Is National Foster Care Awareness Month?

National Foster Care Awareness Month is an annual observance held every May to raise awareness about the needs of children and youth in foster care across the United States. Established in 1988 by presidential proclamation, the month recognizes foster parents, kinship caregivers, child welfare professionals, and community advocates while highlighting the ongoing need for stable, loving homes.

The initiative began in 1988 when President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating May as National Foster Care Month, following years of advocacy by the National Foster Parent Association. [1] Every president since has continued this tradition, and the observance has grown into a nationwide campaign supported by organizations at every level of government.

The Children’s Bureau, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leads the effort each year. Recent themes have centered on supporting young people as they transition to adulthood. The 2026 observance runs May 1–31. [1]

Originally, the month centered on recognizing foster parents for their dedication. Over time, the focus expanded to include older youth in care, permanency planning, and the broader community of advocates and professionals working within the system. [5] Organizations like Let It Be Us use this month to deepen conversations about fostering and adoption through foster care, connecting families with the information and support they need.

Foster Care in the United States: Key Facts and Statistics

More than 360,000 children and youth are in foster care in the United States on any given day. These children enter care for reasons beyond their control, and they need families and communities willing to support them.

Understanding the scope of foster care starts with the numbers. Here is a snapshot of the current landscape, drawn from federal data and child welfare research:

Data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation [2] and the National CASA/GAL Association [3].

Behind every one of these figures is a young person with a name, a personality, and their own potential. The children in foster care are predominantly white (42%), Black (23%), and Latino (22%), though American Indian/Alaska Native and multiracial children continue to be disproportionately represented in the system.

More than half of the children currently in care have a case plan goal of reunifying with their birth families. For many, foster care is a temporary chapter, not a permanent one. But for the tens of thousands who age out without finding permanency, the consequences are significant.

Why Foster Care Awareness Month Matters

Awareness is the first step, but it is not enough on its own. Foster Care Awareness Month matters because it connects knowledge to action, encouraging individuals and communities to move from understanding the problem to becoming part of the solution.

The gap between the number of children needing placement and the number of available foster families remains wide. When there are not enough homes, children may be placed far from their schools and siblings. They may move multiple times, creating instability during an already difficult period.

The consequences of this gap extend well beyond childhood:

• Educational disruption: Approximately 50% of youth in foster care graduate from high school within four years, compared to the national average of roughly 85%. Fewer than 10% of former foster youth obtain a four-year college degree. [4]
• Mental health impact: Young people transitioning out of foster care experience mental health conditions at significantly higher rates, with PTSD rates nearly five times higher than the general population. [2]
• Aging out without support: Each year, more than 15,000 young people leave the foster care system without a permanent family, [3] facing heightened risks of homelessness and unemployment. The transition from care to independence, without the safety net that most young adults rely on, can be overwhelming.

Awareness alone does not place a child in a safe home. But it creates the conditions for action: more families learning about fostering, more communities investing in support, and more people asking how they can help.

Foster Care in Illinois: What You Should Know

Illinois has a robust foster care system overseen by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), with organizations across the state working to recruit and support foster and adoptive families.

If you live in Illinois and have thought about fostering or adopting through foster care, here is what the landscape looks like.

We work with agencies throughout the state to recruit foster parents for several types of foster care:

• Traditional foster care: Standard placements where licensed foster parents provide a safe, nurturing home for a child who cannot live with their birth family
• Specialized foster care: For children with higher-level needs, including medical complexities, where foster parents receive additional support
• Emergency foster care: Immediate placements for children who need a safe home within hours, often coordinated through referral networks
• Therapeutic foster care: For children with significant trauma histories who benefit from foster parents trained in trauma-informed approaches

The path to becoming a licensed foster parent in Illinois typically takes 3 to 6 months. The process includes background checks, medical exams, home studies, and completion of required training. If you are curious about what the requirements look like in detail, the licensing process is thorough but designed to prepare you, not discourage you.

Let It Be Us serves as a guide during the earliest stages. We help individuals and families decide whether fostering or adoption through foster care is the right path, and we connect them with the right licensing agency based on their preferences and circumstances. We also manage the Heart Gallery of Illinois in partnership with DCFS, facilitating connections between waiting children and families who may be a good match.

For those interested in the training that foster parents complete before receiving their license, the preparation covers trauma-informed care, child development, and the practical realities of welcoming a child into your home.

How to Get Involved During Foster Care Awareness Month

There are many ways to support children in foster care this May, whether you are considering becoming a foster parent, want to volunteer, or simply want to spread the word.

You do not need to foster a child to make a difference. Here are concrete ways to get involved:

1. Explore becoming a foster or adoptive parent. If you have been considering fostering or adoption through foster care, this month is a good time to attend an informational session and ask questions. Complete this form to begin your journey: https://letitbeus.org/become-a-foster-parent-form/
2. Attend a free educational event. Let It Be Us hosts webinars and events throughout the year where you can learn about the foster care process with no pressure and no commitment. Explore all further educational opportunities at www.letitbeus.org/events.
3. Volunteer or mentor. Many organizations need volunteers who can serve as mentors, tutors, or advocates for youth in care. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs, for example, train volunteers to speak up for children in court proceedings.
4. Donate to organizations that support children in foster care. Financial contributions help fund foster family recruitment, placement support, and resources for children in care.
5. Raise awareness in your community. Share information about Foster Care Awareness Month on social media, in your workplace, at your place of worship, or at community gatherings. Conversations change perceptions, and changed perceptions lead to more families considering fostering.
6. Support a foster family you know. Something as simple as bringing a meal, offering to babysit, or checking in regularly can make a meaningful difference for families who are caring for children in their homes.

Foster Care Awareness Month 2026 in Illinois

Let It Be Us marks May 2026 with events and conversations across Illinois for families exploring foster care and adoption through foster care. If you are thinking about attending an informational session or a recruitment event this May, our live events calendar and foster parent recruitment events pages list the current 2026 schedule. The calendar updates as partner agencies add new sessions throughout the month.

Common Misconceptions About Foster Care

Misconceptions about foster care can prevent qualified, caring families from taking the first step. Understanding the realities helps remove unnecessary barriers.

Here are some of the most common myths, and what the truth actually looks like:

"You have to be wealthy or own a home to foster."

You do not need a large income or a house with a white picket fence. Foster parents come from all economic backgrounds. You need a stable living situation, a commitment to providing a safe environment, and the willingness to learn. Renters can foster. Single adults can foster. LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples are welcomed and affirmed.

"Children in foster care are ‘problem kids.’"

Children enter foster care because of circumstances beyond their control, most often neglect. They are not defined by the experiences that brought them into the system. With appropriate support and stability, children in foster care can and do thrive.

"Foster care and adoption are the same thing."

They are not. Foster care is often temporary, with the primary goal of reunifying children with their birth families whenever it is safe to do so. Adoption through foster care is a separate path that becomes available when reunification is not possible. Understanding the differences between foster care and adoption helps families make informed decisions about which path fits their situation.

"It is too emotionally difficult."

We will not minimize this. Fostering can be emotionally challenging. You may care deeply for a child who eventually returns to their birth family. But that is actually the goal of foster care in many cases, and foster parents receive training and ongoing support to help them navigate these experiences. The difficulty does not mean you should not do it. It means you should be supported while you do.

"Foster parents are in it for the money."

Foster parents receive a stipend to help cover the costs of caring for a child. This reimbursement often falls short of the actual expenses involved. The vast majority of foster parents are motivated by a genuine desire to provide stability and love to children who need it.

"Only certain types of people can foster."

You do not need to be a specific age, race, religion, or family structure. Let It Be Us welcomes families of all backgrounds and identities. What matters most is your commitment, your willingness to learn, and your capacity to provide a safe home.

How Foster Parents and Advocates Make a Difference

The foster care system depends on a network of dedicated individuals who show up consistently for children and families, from foster parents and kinship caregivers to CASA volunteers and social workers.

Foster parents provide the day-to-day stability that children in care need most. They help with homework, attend doctor’s appointments, celebrate birthdays, and offer the kind of routine and predictability that can begin to heal the effects of disruption.

Kinship caregivers, which include relatives and close family friends, care for more than 70,000 children nationally. These placements help children stay connected to their family, their culture, and their sense of identity during a time of change.

CASA and GAL volunteers are trained and appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of children in court. They are often the one consistent adult in a child’s life during a time when everything else feels uncertain. Nearly 1,000 CASA and GAL programs operate across the country.

Child welfare professionals coordinate the complex logistics that keep the system functioning, from case management to licensing oversight.

At Let It Be Us, our role in this network is recruitment and matching. We connect families who are ready to foster and adopt with the children and agencies that need them. We help caseworkers find emergency placements when a child needs a home immediately. And through the Heart Gallery of Illinois, we facilitate the adoption matching process for children waiting for permanent families.

Taking the Next Step

Foster Care Awareness Month is a moment of reflection, but the need for foster and adoptive families does not end when June begins. If something in this article resonated with you, here are your next steps:

• If you are considering fostering or adoption through foster care: Complete this form to begin your journey: https://letitbeus.org/become-a-foster-parent-form/
• If you want to learn more before deciding: Explore educational opportunities through Let It Be Us at www.letitbeus.org/events
• If you want to help in other ways: Connect with Let It Be Us to learn about volunteer opportunities and ways to give

You do not need to be perfect. You do not need to have all the answers. You need compassion, commitment, and a willingness to learn. Your foster care and/or foster care adoption journey can start today.

References

[1] Children’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "About National Foster Care Month." Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2025. https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/about-national-foster-care-month/

[2] The Annie E. Casey Foundation. "May Is National Foster Care Month." Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2025 (updated). https://www.aecf.org/blog/may-is-national-foster-care-month

[3] National CASA/GAL Association. "May is National Foster Care Month." National CASA/GAL Association, 2025. https://nationalcasagal.org/may-is-national-foster-care-month/

[4] Youth Villages. "May Is National Foster Care Month." Youth Villages, 2025. https://youthvillages.org/may-is-national-foster-care-month-2025/

[5] University of Minnesota School of Social Work. "May is National Foster Care Month." University of Minnesota, 2012. https://ssw.umn.edu/news/may_is_national_foster_care_month