Page 22 - May 2021 Issue.indd

Caroline CASA Th is year’s National Foster Care Month campaign focuses on
how the foster care system can work to strengthen families.
Court Appointed It also emphasizes the importance of helping young people
Special Advocate establish and maintain meaningful connections to help them

during and after their foster care experience. A strong support
May is National Foster Care Month system of professionals and family can help young people
address the challenges they face as they transition to adulthood.
We know that children heal in relationships, and that children’s
May is National Foster Care Month. It is a time to recognize outcomes are better in life when they are better connected. Th e
and honor foster families, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, same is true for youth who develop personal and community
child welfare professionals, and other members of the connections prior to exiting the system. Without opportunities
community who help children and youth in foster care fi nd to develop essential life skills, like learning how to appropriately
safe, permanent, loving homes in which they can thrive. It is budget money or the process of building credit, foster youth
also a time to examine how we all play a role in keeping children can experience negative outcomes. Young people who leave
safe and families together. foster care without permanent connections to a family and

Foster parents provide a critical safety net for children who’ve community are at greater risk of not achieving educational
been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their families. Th ey goals, becoming pregnant at an early age, being homeless, and
open their hearts and their homes to provide stability for facing incarceration.
children and youth during an otherwise tumultuous time in
The first week in May is also Children’s Mental Health
their lives. But foster care is intended as a support system for
Awareness Week. CASA of Caroline is proud to be
families, not a substitute for parents. Foster care should partner
partnering with Caroline County Public Schools and other
with birth parents and older youth in foster care to identify
local organizations and businesses to raise awareness of the
family strengths that can become the foundation of healing
importance of children’s mental health. According to the
for the entire family. Children and youth thrive when their
American Academy of Pediatrics, mental and behavioral
families have routines, structure, and reasonable expectations;
health is the largest unmet health need for children and youth
and parents display warmth and nurturance.
in foster care. Children who have been removed from their
home and placed in foster care experience a traumatic event.
For children to thrive despite abuse or neglect, resilience is

Now offering cleaning methods and products to
protect your home or business that are approved key. The most common factor for developing resilience is

by the CDC and EPA in the fight against Covid-19. having a stable relationship with a supportive adult. Positive
mental and behavioral health requires the consistent presence
Contact us so that we can create a customizable plan of at least one nurturing, responsive caregiver in the child’s or
for the disinfection of your home or business youth’s life for a substantial period of time. As children head
back to school, having caring, dependable adults listen and
put the child’s best interests before all others can make all the
For Over 25 years! diff erence.
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are more likely to be adopted, are half as likely to reenter
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customize a schedule eight fewer months in foster care than children without one.
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that’s right for you! CASA-supported kids are more likely to find a safe, permanent

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