Angie Craig: “Today we celebrate May as National Foster Care Month, and in Idaho, Foster Care Appreciation Month. Although this month…”

“Today we celebrate May as National Foster Care Month, and in Idaho, Foster Care Appreciation Month. Although this month is almost over, the need for foster care remains critical. I would like to take a moment today to talk about the important role that foster parents play in maintaining the safety and welfare of some of our most vulnerable citizens. According to the Administration of Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are an estimated 565,000 children in foster care across this nation. In Idaho, 1,276 children in need have been given temporary refuge in foster homes. There are 470 licensed foster homes available in Idaho to provide a family setting for children who have lost their parents, or whose parents, for whatever reasons, can no longer provide appropriate care. Foster care is intended to be temporary--until a child can be returned safely to his or her parents, or, if that is impossible, placed in a permanent, loving adoptive home.”