“As a Nation, we all have a responsibility to remain persistent in the charge to provide the best care possible for children when they cannot remain in their own homes. During National Foster Care Month, we recognize the efforts of foster families, social workers, faith-based and community organizations, and others that are improving the lives of young people in foster care across our country, and I encourage all Americans to partake in efforts to serve these children in the year ahead.”
These words were spoken by President Barack Obama last April (2011), as he proclaimed May to be “National Foster Care Month”, and talked about the importance of finding stability and quality care for youth involved in the foster care system. At AFC, we’ve been working to serve youth in foster care throughout the year, but especially want to take time this month to reflect on our responsibilities as a nation to serve these youth. One of the most poignant parts of this speech is the President’s call to “remain persistent”–and how difficult we know this can be sometimes.
Last week, AFC staff went to the showing of a documentary called “From Place to Place”, sponsored by the Foster Care Alumni Association of Massachusetts. The documentary reflected this sentiment on ‘persistence’ well; it showcased the lives of three youth who had grown up in the foster care system and their attempts to make change in this community through sharing their stories with both us, the audience, and with the government officials they meet in the film. These youth showed resilience, courage, and persistence: some of the same traits we see in the young people we work with here at AFC. And it’s those same traits that remind us, as friends, mentors, service providers, staff, and supporters, to remain persistent ourselves.
We’re excited about National Foster Care Month; we want to honor the wonderful young people we get to work with through AFC Mentors and AFC Leaders. We plan to persist in our work to empower foster and adopted youth to flourish, and want to encourage you to do the same.
*To see the rest of President Obama’s 2011 proclamation, see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/29/presidential-proclamation-national-foster-care-month?utm_source=Friends+4-27-12+Newsletter&utm_campaign=April+Newsletter+II&utm_medium=email
