WHEREAS, the youth of North Carolina are our most precious resource and hope for the future, and all children deserve a safe, loving, and nurturing place to call home; and
WHEREAS, there are more than 10,322 children and youth in the foster care system in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the primary goal of foster care is to provide safe, secure, and stable homes through the compassion and nurturing of a foster family or kinship family; and
WHEREAS, foster families and kinship families open their homes and hearts to children whose families are in crisis, and play a vital role helping children and families heal and reunify, while helping children launch into successful adulthood; and
WHEREAS, dedicated foster families and kinship families sometimes adopt foster children, resulting in a greater need for more foster families; and
WHEREAS, through the partnerships of numerous individuals, communities, and public and private organizations, there is a collaborative effort to raising public awareness of the needs of children both in foster care and exiting foster care, and of the enduring and valuable contributions made by foster and kinship families; and
WHEREAS, Foster Care Month is an opportunity to recognize the foster parents, child welfare professionals, and advocates working to ensure children’s safety, well-being, and permanence, and to spread awareness on behalf of the thousands of children in foster care in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages individuals and families to volunteer their time, energy, and talents on behalf of children in foster care and their biological families, kinship caregivers, and foster parents during this month and throughout the year;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May, 2022, as “FOSTER CARE MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.