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Fremont County proclaims May 2026 Foster Care Awareness Month, DHS highlights permanency rates
Summary
The board proclaimed May 2026 Foster Care Awareness Month after Department of Human Services staff presented county foster-care statistics for 2025, including an average of 38 children in out-of-home placements and reported permanency rates above national benchmarks.
The Fremont County Board of County Commissioners on Thursday proclaimed May 2026 Foster Care Awareness Month after a presentation by Department of Human Services staff highlighting local foster-care outcomes.
Molly Willard, supervisor of kinship and foster programs at the county Department of Human Services, told the board the county "cared for an average of 38 children and youth in out-of-home placements at any given time" during 2025 and that "the vast majority—over 90% each month—were placed in family-like settings rather than congregate care." Willard described county permanency rates of "80 to a 100% across most of 2025" for children in care up to 12–23 months and 50 to 75% for children in care 24 months or more, figures the proclamation contrasted with national standards.
Willard said the county currently has five traditional foster homes and seven kinship foster homes and described ongoing recruitment work and upcoming Q&A sessions to encourage new foster families. County commissioners praised the foster-care staff and urged residents to consider fostering; the board moved, seconded and adopted the proclamation by roll call.
The proclamation and the county's child-welfare materials were presented to Department of Human Services staff at the meeting; the board encouraged residents to contact the department at the phone number listed in the meeting record for more information.
