May is Foster Care Awareness month.  Foster parents play an essential role in providing temporary, safe, nurturing homes for children when their parents are unable to care for them.

New York State continues to  find permanent safe and caring homes for our children. The number of children in foster care in New York State has decreased from 53,902 children in 1995 to 16,215 as of December 31, 2016. There have been tremendous strides made in bringing families together across New York State