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In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. As a result of the pandemic, May 9, 2021 will, no doubt, hold special significance for many families. We will celebrate the mothers whose roles expanded to full-time caregiver and part-time teacher all while working from home. We’ll hold a little closer the mothers we couldn’t spend time with in-person because of the need to socially distance. And we’ll mourn the loss of the mothers taken from us too soon. As we celebrate mothers, let’s not forget the grandmothers, stepmothers, foster mothers and all of the mother figures and maternal caregivers in our lives.
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National Foster Care Month is also celebrated in May. Did you know that there are over 423,000 children and youth in foster care? Each May, the Children’s Bureau acknowledges the thousands of individuals who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections. It takes a village of foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community to support this process. This includes mental health providers; May is also Mental Health Awareness month. Up to 80 percent of children in foster care have significant mental health issues, compared to approximately 18-22 percent of the general population.
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Supporting Youth in Foster Care
As we highlight National Foster Care Month, it’s important to note you don’t have to be a foster parent or a social service provider to support foster youth. One way to support youth is to talk to your own children. There is often a stigma associated with youth in foster care. Helping your children understand foster care promotes empathy so they can be supportive of classmates or others in the community that are in foster care. Here are some other tips:
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Consider becoming a court-appointed special advocate (CASA). CASA volunteers gather information from everyone in a child’s life, including parents, relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers, and others. This information will then be used to inform judges of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them.
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Mentor a child in foster care. Becoming a mentor or tutor for a child in foster care is a great way to make a difference of a lifetime for children in need of permanency.
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Donate or fundraise. Many children in foster care have very few belongings to call their own. Everything from clothes, back-to-school supplies, toys, and suitcases are needed by foster care organizations. Consider organizing a fundraising or donation drive.
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Volunteer at an agency. Maybe you’re a great handyman, a gardener, or have some other talent that would benefit an agency. The National Foster Care and Adoption Directory can help you find an agency near you.
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Mental Health Awareness
As mentioned before, over 80 percent of youth in foster care have mental health issues. However, mental health issues are in no way exclusive to foster youth. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Amidst the pandemic, we’ve seen significant increases in mental health and substance abuse. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40 percent of adults reported struggling with mental health issues in 2020. One suggestion is to start with a self-care plan. Just like adults are told on planes to put on their oxygen masks first before assisting their children, you must take care of yourself before you can care for others. Take a few minutes to clarify what you are doing to take care of yourself, whom you can go to if you need to talk, and what resources you can or should access if needed. The CDC offers lots of free resources to support you and your family in maintaining mental health.
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How would you advise someone who is struggling with mental health challenges (their own or a family member’s)? This tweet provides some tips and resources.
#Dadication #ConnectingDad #fatherhoodgov #fatherhood #mentalhealth
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We are available by phone.
If you need resources or support, give us a call on our
Parent Help Line at 1-877-4-DAD-411 (1-877-432-3411).
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Disclaimer: Reference to specific products, services, or companies does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Government, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), or the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. ACF is not responsible for the contents of “off-site” web page references or for any private, third-party, pop-up, or browser-integrated software or applications. |
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Upcoming Events
NRFC is monitoring events and will update our website and in newsletters if events are canceled.
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Our Mission: The goals of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse are to provide, facilitate, and disseminate current research and proven and innovative strategies that will encourage and strengthen fathers and families and providers of services.
Our Resources: Visit the NRFC website for fatherhood topics and tools, news, and new publications, which can be found through the NRFC online library search.
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