The Story of Foster Care Awareness Month
Each May, communities across the country observe National Foster Care Month—a time set aside to honor children and youth in foster care, recognize the families and professionals who support them, and raise awareness about the ongoing need for safe, loving homes.
But Foster Care Awareness Month didn’t begin as a nationwide campaign. Its roots are deeply connected to decades of advocacy, reform, and a growing understanding of what children need most: safety, stability, and belonging.
Early Roots: How Foster Care Began in the United States
The idea of caring for children outside their biological families has existed for centuries. Early forms of foster care can be traced back to religious communities in ancient times, including references in the Old Testament and early Christian church practices, where congregations helped care for and place orphaned or abandoned children in homes within the community.
In the United States, however, foster care developed more formally out of necessity in the 18th and 19th centuries. Early child welfare systems often relied on almshouses and orphanages. While these arrangements provided shelter, they were frequently harmful and offered little oversight. Vulnerable children in these institutions were often abused and exploited for free labor. Unfortunately, for many parentless children, the only alternative was life on the streets—often committing petty crimes to survive.
A major turning point came in 1853, when minister and reformer Charles Loring Brace founded the Children’s Aid Society in New York City. Concerned by the growing number of immigrant children living on the streets, Brace pioneered what became known as the “placing out” movement, later associated with the Orphan Train era. Children were sent west to live with families. What began with good intentions often resulted in mixed outcomes, with children placed in homes where their labor was valued more than their care. Many viewed this approach to child welfare as a form of indentured service. Regardless of its flaws, this movement helped shift public thinking away from institutional care and toward family-based placements, laying the groundwork for modern foster care.
By the early 1900s, states began introducing licensing laws, oversight, and payment systems for foster families, recognizing that children deserved intentional care—not just placement.
Growing Awareness: Advocacy in the 20th Century
As the foster care system evolved, so did public awareness. In the 1970s, child welfare advocates, foster parents, and community organizations began organizing local and grassroots campaigns to draw attention to children in foster care and the families supporting them. These early efforts focused on:
- Highlighting the growing number of children in need of safe homes
- Recognizing foster parents and social workers for their often unseen work
- Encouraging more individuals and families to consider becoming foster caregivers
At the time, foster care was largely misunderstood by the broader public. These local campaigns helped move the conversation into churches, neighborhoods, and policy discussions, emphasizing both the urgency of need and the possibility of meaningful impact.
National Recognition: Foster Care Awareness Month is Established
A historic milestone came in May 1988, when President Ronald Reagan issued the first presidential proclamation officially designating May as National Foster Care Month. This proclamation elevated foster care awareness to a national stage, encouraging states, faith communities, and organizations to host events, recognize foster families, and engage the public.
May was intentionally chosen to align with themes of growth, renewal, and hope—a symbolic reminder that children in foster care deserve stability, belonging, and the opportunity to thrive.
Since then, every U.S. President has continued the tradition with annual proclamations, reinforcing the importance of foster care and the collective responsibility to support vulnerable children and families.
Foster Care Awareness Today
Today, National Foster Care Month is led in part by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, alongside nonprofits, advocacy groups, and child welfare partners across the country. The month serves as an opportunity to:
- Raise awareness of the foster care system and its ongoing needs
- Recruit and support foster and adoptive families
- Honor the resilience and strength of youth in care
- Promote permanency through reunification, guardianship, and adoption
While much progress has been made, the heart of the work remains the same: ensuring that children who have experienced loss or disruption are surrounded by safe, supportive, and consistent care.
How WinShape Homes is Engaging This Month
As we observe Foster Care Awareness Month, WinShape Homes invites you to consider how you can raise awareness within your own circle of influence. Whether that looks like sharing resources, having conversations, praying intentionally, or taking steps toward becoming more involved, awareness is often the first step toward meaningful action.
To support you, our team has created a helpful hub of resources designed to be simple and shareable—featuring articles, books, podcasts, and practical tools to help others better understand foster care and how they can help.
Foster care has a long and complex history, shaped by both broken systems and faithful people who stepped in to care. As we look back, we also look forward—believing that continued awareness, advocacy, and compassionate action can help shape a more hopeful future for children and families.
Sources & Further Reading
Children’s Aid Society:
https://www.childrensaidnyc.org/about/history-innovation
Orphan Trains:
https://www.childrensaidnyc.org/about/orphan-train-movement
Full Overview:
Foster Care in the United States (Wikipedia, for general historical context):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_care_in_the_United_States
1970s:
1988:
Proclamation 5820 — National Foster Care Month (1988), President Ronald Reagan:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5820-national-foster-care-month-1988
Children’s Bureau FC Awareness:
https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/about-national-foster-care-month/
WSH Resource Page:
