May is National Foster Care Month, and each year the Children’s Bureau, a branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services, seeks to spread awareness of the impact of Foster Care with a theme unique to the year.

Foster Care 2020

This year's message is "Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents". As a Foster First agency, at Victor our first goal is always the reunification of families, which is often the best outcome in regards to the long-term of the child's well-being.

Only when reunification is not possible, do we look to other solutions, like adoption.  

Our incredible Resource Families also share this mission and the impact they make on their foster children's lives is immeasurable, especially in the times we are all currently experiencing. But in reality, they also support the family unit as a whole.

There is a lot of collaboration and care that goes into our foster care program, from government agencies, to our social workers, the families, and children themselves. 

According to Child Welfare Information Gateway, a partner in communications and information of the Children's Bureau,

Child welfare agencies implement multifaceted strategies that build on family strengths and address concerns. Such strategies may include family engagement, maintaining family and cultural connections, connecting families to evidence-based services in the community, regular and frequent visits among family members and with the worker, and parent education, among others. 

Helping Others Soar

Currently there are over 437,000 children in foster care and we are doing our part to serve those we can.

Diana Guerrero, MSW, LCSW, our Program Manager of Foster Care, Adoptions and ISFC has this message about the importance of this month for Victor.

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. As you know, the FFA and ISFC program at our VTC Pomona site is dedicated to servicing the many needs of our youth and resource families.

Data shows that 30,000 children are currently in foster care in Los Angeles County and 38% of all children in foster care in California reside in Los Angeles County.

I am beyond honored to work with a dynamic, dedicated and passionate group of social workers, mental health professionals and resource family recruiter that are supporting, advocating, nurturing and caring for our foster youth.

Now more than ever, their commitment to ensuring the wellbeing and safety of our kids, supporting our resource families and finding new families to service the growing need is inspiring. 

Thank you Foster Care and ISFC Department for all that you do, every day!

An additional thanks to our Resource Families who change lives every day by choosing to open their hearts and homes to children in a confusing and often difficult time. If you are interested in helping foster children and foster care, remember there are other ways to do so, besides becoming a foster parent.