3. Social Services request to display ribbons for Foster Care Month

C)0 Foster Care change a lifetime Foster Care Month May 2014 WHEREAS, the family, serving as the primary source of love, identity, self-esteem and support, is the very foundation of our communities and our State, and WHEREAS, in Cass County there are approximately 259 children and youth in foster care being provided with a safe, secure and stable home along with the compassion and nurture of a foster family, and WHEREAS, foster families, who open their homes and hearts and give hope to children whose families are in crisis, play a vital role helping children and families heal and reconnect and launching children into successful adulthood, and WHEREAS, dedicated foster families frequently adopt foster children, resulting in a greater need for more foster families, and WHEREAS, 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, NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ken Pawluk, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Chairman of the Board of Cass County Commissioners do hereby proclaim May of 2014 as FOSTER CARE MONTH in Cass County and urge all citizens to come forward and do something positive that will help change a lifetime for children and youth in foster care. U - /L Date Ken Pawluk, Chairman Cass County Board of Commissioners National Foster Care Month is a partnership of Casey Family Programs; the Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services; Black Administrators in Child Welfare; Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Child Welfare League of America; Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative; APHSA/National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators; National Association of Social Workers; National Association of State Foster Care Managers; National CASA; National Foster Care Coalition; the National Foster Parent Association; and the National Resource Center for Family- Centered Practice and Permanency Planning at the Hunter College School of Social Work, a Service of the Children's Bureau. www.fostercaremonth.org I May is National Foster Care Month