Foster Care Month
Foster Care Month 2026: Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities.
May is National Foster Care Month, and this year's theme "Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities" couldn't be more timely or important. More than 320,000 children and youth are currently in foster care across the United States and in Sonoma County we see an average of 320 youth in foster care last year. This month is a call to action for all of us; to look beyond temporary placements and focus on what young people in care truly need which are lasting relationships, real resources and a voice in decisions that shape their lives.
This year's theme highlights how much it matters when children in foster care are surrounded by people who already know and love them. Placement with relatives or familiar adults helps preserve important relationships and cultural ties, reducing trauma and building a sense of belonging. The theme is also a reminder that teens in care deserve a voice in decisions about their own lives and that building real and lasting support networks before they age out of the system can make all the difference.
There are so many meaningful ways to get involved this month and beyond. You can volunteer with organizations like CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) which trains advocates for children in the court system, donate supplies like suitcases, backpacks and hygiene kits to local foster care agencies or simply offer practical help to foster families in your community.
Here are a few trusted organizations where you can learn more, donate, or lend your time:
- 🔗 HSD Family, Youth & Children Division
- 🔗 FosterClub - A youth-led organization empowering young people in and from foster care
- 🔗 Foster Love - Provides essential items and experiences directly to children in care
- 🔗 AdoptUSKids - Connect with foster and adoption resources in your state
- 🔗 Sonoma County CASA - Volunteer to advocate for children in the court system