When is National Foster Care Month?
National Foster Care Month 2027
Sat, May 1, 2027 – Mon, May 31, 2027
The whole of May. That's in 196 days.
until National Foster Care Month begins, in your time zone
National Foster Care Month is a US observance that recognizes foster parents, relatives and communities caring for children who cannot safely live at home, and draws attention to those children's needs. Congress and President Reagan created it in 1988.
About National Foster Care Month
The month has two jobs. It thanks the foster parents, kin caregivers, caseworkers and volunteers who look after children removed from their homes, and it raises awareness of what those children need: safety, stability and, wherever possible, a lasting family connection. In recent years the federal Children's Bureau, which leads the national campaign, has stressed keeping children connected to their own families, including placing them with relatives. Its figures show that in 2025, 22% of children in foster care were placed in licensed kinship homes.
The observance began with a law. Congress passed Senate Joint Resolution 59 designating May 1988 as National Foster Care Month and asked the president to mark it. President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation 5820 on May 10, 1988, calling for public thanks to foster parents and for more families to open their homes to children in need. Presidents have continued to issue yearly proclamations for it, such as Proclamation 11023 for May 2026, which President Donald Trump signed on April 30, 2026.
Foster care is meant to be temporary. Many children return to their parents once a home is safe again, while others are adopted or placed in guardianship. November's National Adoption Month focuses on the children whose path is adoption, while May's observance covers the wider foster care system and the people who keep it running.
Sources: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Proclamation 5820, National Foster Care Month, 1988, Child Welfare Information Gateway (Children's Bureau): National Foster Care Month, Federal Register: National Foster Care Month, 2026 (Proclamation 11023). How we check dates.
How to mark National Foster Care Month
- Find out what your state child welfare agency needs, whether that's foster parents, respite caregivers or homes for teens and sibling groups.
- Offer a foster family in your circle practical help, such as a cooked meal, school pickups or a few hours of babysitting.
- Volunteer as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) or guardian ad litem, if your area has a program.
- Donate suitcases, backpacks or school supplies to a local group that serves children entering care.
- Support programs for young adults aging out of foster care, such as mentoring or job-skills help.
- Thank a caseworker, foster parent or kinship caregiver you know.
National Foster Care Month dates
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Thu, May 1 – Sat, May 31 |
| 2026 | Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 31 |
| 2027 | Sat, May 1 – Mon, May 31 |
| 2028 | Mon, May 1 – Wed, May 31 |
| 2029 | Tue, May 1 – Thu, May 31 |
| 2030 | Wed, May 1 – Fri, May 31 |
| 2031 | Thu, May 1 – Sat, May 31 |
Also on May 1
Related days
Explore
Frequently asked questions
When is National Foster Care Month 2027?
National Foster Care Month 2027 is Sat, May 1, 2027 – Mon, May 31, 2027. It falls on the whole of May. In 2028, it is on Monday, May 1, 2028.
When did National Foster Care Month start?
In 1988. Congress designated May 1988 through Senate Joint Resolution 59, and President Reagan proclaimed it on May 10, 1988. Presidents still issue a proclamation for it each year.
What is kinship care?
Kinship care means a child who can't stay with their parents lives with a relative or close family friend instead. The Children's Bureau encourages licensing these caregivers so they get the same support as other foster parents.
Is National Foster Care Month a public holiday?
No. National Foster Care Month is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.