Foster Care Awareness Month recognized in May in New York

Since 1988, Foster Care Awareness Month has been dedicated to highlighting the importance of foster care and adoption. There are thousands of children across the country who need a loving, caring home, and this month is a key reminder to give back to children who come from difficult circumstances.

There is a need for more families to take on these responsibilities, even with a disparity in resources when it comes to the foster care system. Spectrum News 1 spoke to the Northern Rivers organization to find out more. Their mission is to empower children, adults and families to build stronger, safer communities.

“I would say our foster parents, as they are and present themselves, are truly unconditionally supportive in caring and loving the children,” said Colleen Vogel, senior director of foster care at Northern Rivers Family of Services. “And it’s really helpful for the children to stabilize. Conversely, you know, foster parents say all the time how much the children have affected them and that they notice themselves, how grateful and blessed they are to be and, you know, take for granted.

Spectrum News 1 also spoke with a parent who is part of the Northern Rivers foster care program, who explained why she thinks the program is so important.

“We’ve been doing this for three years,” said foster mother Kirsten Mitchell. “We’ve brought different groups of kids together, and the biggest blessing has always been being able to talk to these kids and know that they’re doing well and loving to see them thrive. It’s important that everyone has a place where he feels loved, a place where he can feel at home, a place where he can rest at night and be the person he’s supposed to be. And I think with foster kids, it’s a little more important because they’ve already been through so many different obstacles and traumas that they need that extra support.”

You can visit Northernrivers.org to learn more about becoming a foster parent. This is a process that includes a background check and a 10-week training program to ensure children are cared for appropriately and safely.