Mayor Stewart proclaims May National Foster Care Month in San Luis Obispo

The San Luis Obispo City Council has officially proclaimed May as National Foster Care Month, highlighting the urgent need for more resource families to support children in the foster care system. During the recent council meeting, Mayor Erica Stewart emphasized the city’s commitment to ensuring that all children have safe and loving homes when they cannot stay with their biological families.

Currently, over 420,000 children nationwide are in foster care, with more than 200 in San Luis Obispo County alone. The county's Department of Social Services is actively working to recruit more resource families to provide nurturing environments for these children, who often face challenging circumstances.

Amanda Bridal, a social worker with SLO County Child Welfare Services, addressed the council, thanking them for the proclamation and underscoring the critical role of resource families. She noted that these families offer stability and care while biological families work towards reunification. However, the county is facing a significant shortage of resource families, which can lead to placement disruptions and increased trauma for children.

To combat this issue, the Department of Social Services launched the 75-25 initiative last May, aiming to develop 75 new community-based resource family homes by the end of 2025. This initiative includes specific targets for homes for teens, school-age children, and emergency placements. Currently, the county has secured 35% of its goal and is calling on the community for support to reach the target by year’s end.

Bridal encouraged residents to get involved by attending virtual information meetings to learn more about fostering and how they can contribute to this vital cause. The city’s proclamation and the ongoing efforts of the Department of Social Services aim to raise awareness and foster community support for the children in need of loving homes.