May is National Foster Care Month

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Social Services is joining partners nationwide in recognizing May as National Foster Care Month.
The annual observance highlights issues surrounding foster care and acknowledges the resource families, 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. 
Gov. Jim Justice also proclaimed May as Foster Care Month in West Virginia.
“Each child deserves a loving and supportive family,” said Jeff Pack, commissioner of the Bureau for Social Services.
“National Foster Care Month is part of a year-round initiative to not only highlight that need, but to recognize the child welfare professionals and the kinship, relative, and resource families who work daily to make that a reality for thousands of West Virginia children.”
The primary purpose of foster care is to reunite the child with their family by providing interventions aimed at reunification whenever safely possible.
The Bureau for Social Services is committed to ensuring that the approximately 6,200 West Virginia children in out-of-home care and their families receive adequate and appropriate services that best meet their needs. 
Mission West Virginia facilitates matches between families and children in West Virginia.
Questions about foster care and relative and kinship care resources can be directed to Mission West Virginia at www.missionwv.org or 304.l512.0555.