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It's time to shine a spotlight on the incredible work of foster parents and the courage and resilience of children in foster care, as we celebrate Foster Care Fortnight on May 9. This annual event was first established in the UK in 1998 to raise awareness about the needs of foster children and recognize the amazing contributions of foster families. During this two-week period, various organizations and communities come together to support and celebrate these unsung heroes who provide love, stability, and a brighter future for children in need. Let's take a moment to appreciate all that they do and encourage others to get involved in this meaningful cause!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1939</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>UK Foster Care Evolution</div><div class='timeline-text'>The start of World War II marked pivotal developments in UK's foster care system as thousands of children were evacuated from cities to safer rural areas.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1980s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Shift Toward Family Group Homes</div><div class='timeline-text'>The 1980s saw a shift away from larger institutionalized care homes towards family-based foster homes. This was done to give at-risk kids a more normal home environment.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1998</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Initiation of Foster Care Fortnight</div><div class='timeline-text'>Foster Care Fortnight was first established in the UK in 1998 to raise awareness and support for the importance of foster care.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2012</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Foster Care Counts Founded</div><div class='timeline-text'>In California, USA, "Foster Care Counts" was founded to honor foster parents and raise awareness on the needs of foster care children.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2015</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Fostering Collaboration</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Fostering Network and CoramBAAF, two prominent foster care organizations in the UK, combined their strengths in 2015 to make Foster Care Fortnight even more impactful.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2018</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Expanding Reach</div><div class='timeline-text'>In 2018, Foster Care Fortnight saw greater international participation, reaching even more people outside of the UK to raise awareness for foster care struggle and needs.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a foster care fundraiser</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Organize a fundraiser to support local foster care organizations. This could be a bake sale, a charity run, or any other creative event to raise awareness and funds for foster care during Foster Care Fortnight.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer at a foster care organization</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spend some time during Foster Care Fortnight volunteering at a local foster care organization. This could involve playing with the children, helping with administrative tasks, or even fostering a child yourself.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a foster care awareness event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Plan and host an event to raise awareness about foster care in your community. This could be a panel discussion, a film screening, or any other creative way to start important conversations about foster care during Foster Care Fortnight.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Write letters of appreciation to foster care parents</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take the time to write heartfelt letters of appreciation to foster care parents, thanking them for their selfless dedication and love for the children in their care. This small gesture can go a long way in showing support and gratitude during Foster Care Fortnight.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Educate yourself and others about foster care</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Use Foster Care Fortnight as an opportunity to educate yourself and others about the realities and needs of foster care. Share resources, raise awareness, and have important conversations about how we can all support and improve the foster care system.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It raises awareness for children in foster care</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Foster Care Fortnight is an important reminder that there are many children in need of safe and loving homes. By bringing attention to this issue, we can help encourage people to consider becoming foster parents or support organizations that provide resources for children in foster care.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It celebrates the resilience of foster children</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Foster Care Fortnight is also a time to celebrate and honor the strength and determination of foster children. They have faced challenges that most of us could never imagine, yet they continue to persevere and thrive with the love and support of their foster families.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It encourages support for foster families</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Fostering can be a difficult and emotionally taxing experience, but it plays such an important role in providing stability and love for children in need. Foster Care Fortnight helps raise awareness about the support that foster families need and encourages others to offer their support in any way possible.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Worldwide, more than 8 million children live in foster care or institutions:</h3><p class='facts-content'>This staggering number highlights the global scale of the issue, but also the potential for positive change if more people opt to become foster parents.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Foster children show remarkable resilience and potential:</h3><p class='facts-content'>Despite facing major disruptions in their lives, many foster children manage to outperform their peers academically, showing the impact of a caring and stable environment.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Foster parents come from diverse backgrounds:</h3><p class='facts-content'>Foster parents range from single adults or elderly couples to young families, indicating that many different situations allow for successful fostering.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Foster care provides invaluable mental and emotional support:</h3><p class='facts-content'>Passionate and dedicated foster carers provide much-needed mental and emotional support to children in the system, which can positively shape their future lives.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Every foster child's experience and needs are unique:</h3><p class='facts-content'>Just like any other child, each one in foster care has their own dreams, fears, talents, and needs, reinforcing the importance of personalized psychological and educational support.</p></div></div>
Foster Care Fortnight is celebrated on May 9 every year. In 2024, Foster Care Fortnight will occur on a Thursday.
2023
May 9
Tuesday
2024
May 9
Thursday
2025
May 9
Friday
2026
May 9
Saturday
2027
May 9
Sunday
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