Governor Kate Brown has proclaimed May 2021 to be Foster Care Month in Oregon.
Governor Kate Brown has proclaimed May 2021 to be Foster Care Month in Oregon.
Foster Care Month is a time to recognize how foster care supports and strengthens families, to honor the experiences of the children and young people in foster care, and to show gratitude for the contribution that resource families, formerly called foster families or foster parents in Oregon, make to the well-being and safety of our community.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, believes that foster care should always be the last possible and temporary option for a child and family when there is child safety concern. The trauma inflicted on a family by separating them during foster care needs to be carefully considered. If foster care is necessary, reunification should be the primary goal.
In Oregon, there are 5,975 children in foster care and thousands of resource families who step up to support them and their families.
Resource families are affirming and supportive to both the child and their family. Think of the many things they do: Resource families ensure cultural and community connections for children and young adults. They work hard to partner with families to offset the tremendous grief and loss children and young adults experiencing foster care may have. They are partners in achieving the best possible outcomes for families while providing for the safety, health and well-being of the children and young people they’re committed to caring for in their home. Resource families in Oregon support family preservation and reunification whenever possible and, in many cases, are available to provide a permanent and supportive home for the children who need it.
Bishops is joining ODHS and the larger community in recognizing and showing appreciation to the resource families in Portland. During the month of May, resource parents, and anyone in their network, can receive a discount on haircuts and color for themselves and anyone in their network! This gesture not only expresses Bishop’s commitment to the community but comes at a time where any of us can use a bit more of self-care. ODHS is incredibly grateful to Bishops for their thoughtfulness and their contribution to support the resource families in our area.
To learn more about becoming a resource parent, visit the Department website or contact ODHS’s partner organization Every Child at EveryChildOregon.org. For those looking for other ways to support the children and families in their communities, Every Child’s MyNeighbOR program is another way to help meet the essential needs of children, families, and young adults impacted by foster care.