National Foster Care Month: Centered on Family, Strengthened by Connections

May is National Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care Month! The Children Bureau‘s campaign recognizes the important role that people from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth and families. This year’s theme, “Centered on Family, Strengthened by Connections,” honors the importance of family connections and authentic family engagement in decision-making. Listening to families and supporting the relationships they value can enhance trust and improve the well-being of children and families! 

When children enter foster care and are placed with relatives or close family friends, they benefit from preserved family relationships and cultural identity. These connections help minimize the trauma of foster care and help children heal. Children placed with kin or close family friends are also less likely to experience multiple placements compared with those in traditional foster care. This practice is becoming more commonplace. In 2007, 26 percent of foster care placements were with relatives; by 2021, that number had grown to 35 percent (Child Welfare Information Gateway). 

According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Jordan Institute for Families, there were just under 11,000 children in foster care in North Carolina as of January 2025. During Foster Care Month, you can raise awareness about the importance of partnering with families, equipping them with support and services and honoring cultural and community connections! 

Policy in Motion

As North Carolina continues to evolve its foster care practices, recent legislative efforts underscore a growing commitment to meaningful reform. Recent Legislative  proposals by NC House lawmakers like House Bill 795 and House Bill 612 highlight a growing focus on transparency, accountability, and family-centered care. This bill seeks to ensure that children can remain within their extended families, preserving vital familial and cultural connections. These reforms aim to strengthen kinship placements, improve oversight of local social services, and invest in preventative supports such as mental health care, housing assistance, and substance use treatment.

House Bill 795: Enhancing Kinship Care and Oversight

House Bill 795, titled “Increased Access for Youth in Foster Families,” aims to strengthen kinship care by providing financial assistance to relatives who assume guardianship of children in foster care. This bill seeks to ensure that children can remain within their extended families, preserving vital familial and cultural connections. Additionally, the legislation proposes increased state oversight of local social services departments to improve placement stability and expedite finding suitable homes for youth with behavioral health needs (North Carolina Health News, 2025).

House Bill 612: Comprehensive Child Welfare Reforms

House Bill 612, known as the “Fostering Care in NC Act,” offers a broader approach to reforming the child welfare system. This bill focuses on enhancing accountability and transparency within county social services departments. It proposes standardized assessments for children entering foster care, improved data tracking, and increased support for foster families. The legislation also emphasizes the importance of keeping siblings together and prioritizing placements that align with the child’s cultural and community ties (WRAL, 2025).

A central theme across both bills is prevention—offering families the resources they need before a crisis occurs. There’s also a clear effort to keep children connected to their relatives, communities, and cultures by prioritizing kin placements and relational permanency. Together, these reforms reflect a broader recognition that children thrive when surrounded by familiar, supportive environments. This marks a shift toward a more compassionate and effective foster care system in North Carolina.

Stay Connected!

Help us raise awareness this May by joining the conversation online! Follow us @cfacencstate on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn as we share stories, resources and highlights during National #FosterCareMonth. 

Be sure to tag us in your posts—we’d love to see how you’re supporting foster families in your community.