One of Saint Francis Ministries largest programs is foster care. Last year, we served about 4,200 children and teens in foster and kinship care in four of the six states where we have a presence – Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska. On top of that, we worked with 905 foster/kinship homes to help ensure those young people were properly cared for until they could either reunite with their families or achieve some other type of permanency.

Because of our commitment to providing quality, professional foster care services, National Foster Care Month means a lot to us. As the Children’s Bureau says, it’s a “time to acknowledge foster parents, family members, volunteers, mentors, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and other members of the community who help children and youth in foster care find permanent homes and connections.”

We also renew our dedication to the more than 391,000 children and youth in foster care in the U.S. and honor those who open their hearts and homes to them – foster and kinship parents.

There’s nothing particularly different or special about foster caregivers, except that they wanted to make the world better. Unlike most of us, though, they then decided to actually do it.

They didn’t cure cancer. Nor did they win the Nobel peace prize.

But they did change the world for at least one child. By taking in a stranger … by feeding, clothing, and caring for a child in need of a safe place to stay … by loving that child … they changed the world. And who knows what kind of ripple effect that decision will have.

That’s why this month is important.

What about you? Have you ever thought about fostering, but haven’t quite decided to make the leap yet?

Is there room in your own home for a child or teen in foster care? Is there room in your heart?

If so … if you’re finally ready to do something about making the world better, visit our Foster Care page to begin the most challenging – yet most rewarding – experience of your life.