Johnson County proclaims May as Foster Care Month; officials note local need for more foster homes

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors on May 1 adopted a proclamation declaring May 2025 Foster Care Month and used the event to review local foster-care capacity and recruitment needs.

"We have approximately 80 foster homes in Johnson," said Valerie LaValle, a social work administrator with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, who spoke at the meeting. LaValle thanked the board for continuing support and recognized local licensing staff and supervisors involved in foster care services.

Representatives from 4 Oaks, a local child and family services nonprofit, told the board the state faces a large shortage of foster families. "We do actually have a 35% shortage of foster families across the state of Iowa," said Shirley Mike Bauer, program director at 4 Oaks, urging recruitment and retention of foster families.

Several supervisors and attendees shared personal and professional observations about fostering during the proclamation remarks. One supervisor described long-term personal experience as a foster parent and encouraged residents to consider fostering when possible.

The board voted 5 to 0 to adopt the proclamation. Department staff said they continue to work on licensing kinship and relative placements and encouraged residents to contact the department or 4 Oaks to learn about becoming a foster family.

What happens next: County staff and partner agencies will continue recruitment and licensing outreach; the proclamation is intended to raise awareness and support for local foster families.