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 approximately 10,150 children and youth in the foster care system, and approximately 841 young adults ages 18 to 20 in extended foster care in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of foster care is to provide temporary 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 in helping children and families heal and reunify, while launching children into successful adulthood; and
WHEREAS, we encourage North Carolinians to think about how they can help meet the need for more foster, kinship, and adoptive families; and
WHEREAS, there are numerous individuals, communities, and public and private organizations working to increase 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, kinship families, child welfare professionals, and advocates working to ensure children’s safety, permanence, and well-being, 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 residents 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, 2023, as “FOSTER CARE MONTH” and May 2, 2023, and “FOSTER CARE AWARENESS DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.