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Dear Colleague,
This year, not only do we raise awareness about the thousands of children and youth in foster care, but also the importance of mental health. Mental and behavioral health is the largest unmet health need for these children and teens. By treating mental health as an important component of overall well-being, children and teens in foster care can develop the resiliency and skills that contribute to positive outcomes throughout their life.
This month, let us uplift the conversation around supporting the mental health needs of children and youth in foster care, and disrupt the myths, while working to provide culturally responsive supports and services.
The National Foster Care Month website is filled with new resources and examples of evidence-based mental health programs and services. View information on the role that two federal efforts—the Family First Prevention Services Act and the Child Family Services Reviews—play in helping child welfare and related organizations take a holistic approach to services.
Let's make a change to the way we discuss mental health, so that it is equal to how we discuss physical health. Because mental health support can mean different things to different people, let's adjust the lens with which we view mental health services and include a consideration of the culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and disability of the recipient to ensure services are effective.
This National Foster Care Month, join us in showing that a mental health journey can begin at any age, and we don't need to wait until traditional signs of mental health challenges appear before starting.
Use the resources on the National Foster Care Month website all month long and year-round to make a difference on what mental health support can look like for children, youth, and caregivers involved in the foster care system.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Lee, MSW
Child Welfare Program Specialist
Children's Bureau
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For more information, email NFCM@childwelfare.gov or call 1.800.394.3366.
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