National Foster Care Day
National Foster Care Day on May 7 honors the 400,000+ American children currently in foster care, the 210,000 foster families who open their homes to them, and the social workers, CASAs, and frontline nonprofits doing the quiet work of giving vulnerable kids stability. A sobering observance — and an urgent one. The foster-care system is the most consequential child-welfare institution in the country, and it needs more families.
Why it matters
EVERY KID DESERVES HOME.
It’s National Foster Care Day. On May 7, America pauses to honor the 400,000+ children in foster care right now — and the foster families, social workers, CASAs, and nonprofit teams doing the urgent, underrecognized, essential work of keeping vulnerable kids safe and loved.
THE STORY
The foster-care system in the US is old. ‘Orphan trains’ (1854-1929) carried ~200,000 children from Northeastern cities to rural foster families. The Social Security Act of 1935 established federal funding for foster care. The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 reformed the system. The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 strengthened permanency requirements. It’s a system built in layers.
Today, ~400,000 American children are in foster care at any given time. Most come from homes with serious neglect, abuse, substance abuse, or parental incarceration. About half reunify with their biological families. About 20% are adopted (often by the foster family). The rest ‘age out’ at 18 or 21 without a permanent family — a brutal outcome that predicts homelessness, incarceration, and trauma.
The system has a severe family shortage. Every state needs more foster families. The shortage is worst for teenagers, sibling groups, LGBTQ+ kids, kids with medical needs, and kids of color. Most American foster kids cycle through multiple placements — sometimes 10+ — because there aren’t enough homes. Stability is the #1 unmet need.
National Foster Care Day (May 7) is within National Foster Care Month (May). Proclaimed each year by the White House since 1988 under Reagan. The month’s goal: raise awareness, recruit families, honor the workforce. Organizations like Together We Rise, A Home Within, and CASA coordinate drives and fundraisers. It’s a hard observance — but an important one. The numbers don’t get better without more people paying attention.
A child is not expected to take care of himself. He expects to be taken care of. If he is not, we have failed.
WAYS TO HELP FOSTER YOUTH
Four concrete ways Americans can support foster kids and families:
Become a Foster Parent
States need ~30,000 more foster families RIGHT NOW. Training takes 20-30 hours; approval ~4 months. Single people, couples, same-sex couples, older adults — all qualify. Every state is recruiting.
Volunteer as a CASA
Court Appointed Special Advocates — 30 hrs training, then 10-15 hrs/month assigned to 1-2 foster kids. Be the ONE consistent adult in a child’s court case. Massive impact; 93,000+ active nationwide.
Donate Practical Items
New duffel bags, hygiene kits, school supplies, warm clothes, birthday gifts. Organizations like Together We Rise and Foster Love distribute directly to kids in care.
Give Money
To CASA (nationalcasagal.org), Together We Rise, A Home Within, or your state’s foster parent association. All highly-rated nonprofits with transparent finances.
LEADING AMERICAN FOSTER CARE ORGANIZATIONS
Six organizations doing foster-care work at national scale:
DID YOU KNOW?!
Many foster alumni have changed the world.
Notable foster alumni include: Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, Babe Ruth, Ice-T, Tommy Davidson, Jamie Foxx, James MacArthur, Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Murphy. Each life a reminder of what foster children can become — with support.
Every state has different rules.
Foster care is run at the state level with federal funding. Training requirements, reimbursements, licensing rules all vary significantly. Texas requires 35 hours of initial training; CA 33; NY 30. Check your state’s Department of Children and Family Services.
Foster parents receive monthly reimbursement.
Varies by state: ~$450-800/month per child for basic care (food, clothing, housing). Higher for kids with special medical, behavioral, or therapeutic needs. Not enough to ‘profit’ — barely covers costs in most states.
Aging out at 18 is devastating.
Without permanent family connections, 23,000 American youth ‘age out’ of foster care each year. Within 4 years: 60% incarcerated, 50% unemployed, 33% homeless, 71% of women pregnant. The long-term cost of not finding permanent families is enormous.
READ & ACT
Three Little Words
Ashley Rhodes-Courter · 2008
Rhodes-Courter spent 9 years in 14 foster homes before being adopted at 12. This bestselling memoir gives a searing, firsthand view of the American foster-care system. Required reading for anyone interested.
Etched in Sand
Regina Calcaterra · 2013
A former-foster-youth-turned-New-York-attorney’s memoir of navigating Long Island’s foster system as a child. Brutal and hopeful. Inspired legislative reform efforts in New York.
To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care
Cris Beam · 2013
Investigative journalism — Beam followed foster families, social workers, and foster youth for five years. Remarkably nuanced and deeply humane. Best single book on how the system actually functions.
PAIR IT WITH
To CASA or Together We Rise. Both high-impact, well-rated, transparent.
One of the foster alumni memoirs above. Especially Rhodes-Courter or Calcaterra.
Foster-care policy is determined at state level. Know your state legislator. Support funding for CPS, CASA, and foster family services.
A foster family in your orbit. Babysitting, meal trains, school pickup. Every gesture counts.
Every Child Deserves a Family.
Tag us @celebrationnation with #NationalFosterCareDay. Share the organizations, foster families, and CASAs doing this work in your community.
How to celebrate
Help vulnerable kids — however you can:
- 🏡 Learn about foster parenting. Every state's Department of Children and Family Services has information sessions. No commitment; just show up and learn.
- ⚖️ Volunteer as a CASA. Court Appointed Special Advocates train volunteers to be the trusted adult in a foster child's life during court proceedings. 30 hours of training; lasting impact.
- 🎁 Donate to foster-focused nonprofits. National CASA, Together We Rise, A Home Within — all highly-rated organizations serving foster children directly.
- 📚 Read memoirs by foster alumni. Ashley Rhodes-Courter's 'Three Little Words' or Regina Calcaterra's 'Etched in Sand' give the honest inside view.
- 🫂 Support the foster family in your orbit. Meals, babysitting, hand-me-down clothes. Most foster parents are overwhelmed; small gestures help hugely.
Celebration ideas by audience
For families
Age-appropriate conversations about what foster care is. Donate kid-appropriate items (new backpacks, books, clothes) to local foster agencies.
For kids
Too young for the hard reality, but can participate in toy/book drives. Great civic-awareness starting point.
For couples
Foster parenting requires partnership. If you've ever wondered, learn together. Information sessions are non-binding.
At the office
Workplace drive for Together We Rise's 'Sweet Cases' (new duffels for foster kids who often arrive at placements with trash bags). Easy corporate service project.
At school
Classrooms with foster kids often have hidden needs. School counselors know who. Help quietly.
In your community
Become a CASA. The training is intensive but flexible. Every CASA helps 1-2 kids at a time; changes lives.
On your own
Donate to CASA (nationalcasagal.org). Or check your state's 'adopt US Kids' program for kids who are available for permanent adoption.