May 2024

<!doctype html>

May is Foster Care Awareness Month

| May 2024 |

May is Foster Care Awareness Month!

The Children’s Bureau’s National Foster Care Month campaign recognizes the important role that people from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth, and families. This year’s theme highlights the need to create a child welfare system that authentically engages and supports young people who are preparing to leave foster care.

At ICA, we are joining in that campaign and adding to it the importance of coming alongside our Foster Families and supporting them as well. Whether it’s by providing a meal, assisting with daily chores at their home, and many other ways, our Foster Families also need our help and care.

Some Quick Stats

There are over 365,000 children and youth in foster care.

Approximately 18,500 youth are emancipated from foster care without a permanent family.

In 2021, 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care, ages 14–21 years old, left care without receiving the federally funded services necessary to prepare them for adulthood and independent living.

Find Out Ways to Aid During Foster Care Awareness Month

ICA Cohort!

We’ve been asked plenty of times how people can volunteer, help, or aid ICA and we’ve been working on a good way to answer this question and we’re excited to announce the ICA Advocacy Cohort. This program will allow those who want to represent ICA and champion what we do. Stay tuned as we continue to build out the program and start to unravel how to be a part of the ICA Cohort. Sign up to join the ICA Cohort, or to just get updated.

Currently, our offices do not have any upcoming events, however, we are willing and wanting to hold Info Meetings at your church, business, or at your home. Our Info Meeting helps inform people of our vision & mission, programs, services, the latest and greatest happening at ICA, AND to bring awareness to the situations and circumstances of all that is happening within Foster Care.

Host an Info Meeting

Recently, ICA had the extreme honor of being able to watch and advanced screening of the movie Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot. The film is inspired by the unbelievable true story that follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they ignite a movement of compassion in their East Texas church to adopt some of the most difficult kids in the foster care system. After 22 families adopted 77 children, the Martins lead the charge to prove that faith, community, and perseverance have the power to change the lives of children everywhere.

With Foster Care Awareness Month, we are hoping our churches, our advocates, and anyone that supports ICA’s mission and vision to watch the film Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot and capture a glimpse of the heart of Foster Care and Adoption and thus, help spread the word for the July 4^th premiere.

You can join us by sharing the link below.

Buy Tickets to Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

We actively have needs for our Trafficked Victims and Families in Post Release Services such as:

Gas for vehicle
Groceries
Daily hygiene items
Various home supplies

If you’d like to donate to this effort, we are requesting gift cards only and to stores like Walmart, Target, grocery stores and gas stations. If you’re able to donate these gift cards, please contact ICA so we can connect on how to receive them.

I’d Like to Donate Gift Cards

ICA Cohort!

Join to the ICA Cohort and be an active advocate as a Voice of HOPE for vulnerable youth and children.

Share Social Media Graphics About Foster Care Awareness Month

Share or Repost our social media graphics that’ll aid in bringing awareness to Foster Care Awareness Month.

I’d Like Social Media Graphics

Pray that we would receive more families willing and able to become Foster Families.
Pray that our Foster Families would have the right community come alongside them and support them in this journey of Foster Care.
Pray that our Counseling Center would continue to positively make an impact in the Foster Families we serve AND be a source of hope to those children and youth in need that are in our community.
Pray for our TVAP and PRS families to receive the financial accommodations they need.
Pray that we would find the right organizations and be able to have the right events to connect and meet with potential Foster Families.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28

Life can be hard sometimes. Life can weigh you down and sometimes seem unbearable, but stop, take a breath, and find rest in Jesus, knowing He can provide that rest. Easier said then done, but He’s ready to hear from you. He wants to hear from you. Jesus wants to know what’s holding you down.