New Bedford, Massachusetts - Mayor Scott W. Lang has joined with representatives from the New Bedford Area Office of the Department of Social Services and the New Bedford Community Connections’ Task Force for Foster Care Support in an effort to raise awareness of area foster children and the families who care for them. Today, Mayor Lang issued an official proclamation declaring May “Foster Care Month” in New Bedford in honor of the dozens of New Bedford families who have welcomed foster children into their hearts and homes.

The Mayor praised the foster parents currently volunteering in New Bedford for their tremendous goodwill and encouraged more responsible adults to get involved. “Nothing is more critical to a child’s growth and development than the compassion, guidance and stability provided by responsible, caring adults. Many families in our community have come forward to support the children who are part of the Massachusetts foster care system, but more of these families are needed,” he said.

Currently, more than 400 children in the Greater New Bedford Area are part of the state’s foster care system and there are 147 licensed foster homes to assist in caring for those children. The local data on foster care children and families mirrors the national numbers. More than 500,000 children are in foster care in the United States and just 170,000 licensed foster homes exist.

“We are very proud of the work done by our foster parents but we are in great need of additional quality foster parents. Last week, 20 children were placed in one-night placements, as there were no longer-term foster homes available. We are grateful to the mayor in supporting and recognizing the value of foster parents in this community and hope the community will respond to the need for additional foster homes,” said Dennis Gauthier, Area Director New Bedford Department of Social Services.

Darlene A. Spencer, Executive Director of the New Bedford Community Connections Coalition said, “National Foster Care Month is an opportunity to reflect on the multi2 faceted needs of foster children in the New Bedford area and to recognize the over 140 families that have opened their homes and hearts to our neediest children. It is important as well to remember the other eleven months of the year and challenge ourselves as a community to make a difference in the lives of all children, but particularly those in the foster care system.”

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in the Greater New Bedford area there are over 400 children and youth foster care being provided with a safe, secure and stable home along with the compassion and nurture of a foster family; and,

all young people in foster care need a meaningful connection to a caring adult who becomes a supportive and lasting presence in their lives; and

foster, kinship and adoptive families, who open their homes and hearts and support children whose families are in crisis, play a vital role in helping children and families heal and reconnect thereby launching young people into successful adulthood;

dedicated foster families frequently adopt foster children, resulting in a greater need for more foster families; and

there are numerous individuals, public and private organizations who work to increase public awareness of the needs of children in and leaving foster care as well as the enduring and valuable contribution of foster parents, and the foster care “system” is only as good as those who choose to be part of it; and

, Mayor of the City of New Bedford, do hereby proclaim the month of May as: