National Foster care Month, observed each May, recognizes the important role foster parents, child welfare professionals and other community members play in the lives of foster children.
State Senator Randy Head said, “It is estimated that 442,000 kids and teens across the nation are unable to stay in their own homes because of abuse or neglect, and as of March 2019, over 14,500 of these children live in Indiana.”
To raise awareness of the number of children in Indiana’s foster care system, the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) will host events this month throughout the state promoting opportunities to help our state’s most vulnerable children.
Senator Head said, “This year, the General Assembly passed legislation during the 2019 session to support DCS and Indiana’s foster children. For example, our state’s next two-year budget allocates $502 million in additional funding to DCS.”
Senate Enrolled Act 1 gives foster parents a stronger voice by creating a process for them to share their recommendations about a child’s welfare with the court system.
Another bill passed this year, House Enrolled Act 1006, implements recommendations from the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group to improve DCS based on its 2018 review of the agency.
Click here to learn more about National Foster Care Month.
To learn more about becoming a foster parent, visit in.gov/dcs.
