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Centre County proclaims May Foster Care Awareness Month; officials urge more foster homes
Summary
Centre County commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as Foster Care Awareness Month and heard a foster parent's account of reunification and county staff on gaps in capacity and supports. Officials said the county has 61 licensed foster homes but only eight available for full-time placement now, with a particular shortage of homes for older children.
Centre County commissioners on May 26 adopted a proclamation declaring May 2026 Foster Care Awareness Month and used the meeting as a forum to highlight gaps in local foster-care capacity and supports for families.
County staff introduced local foster-system supports and programs and called for broader community involvement. "Foster parents not only open their homes; they open their hearts," a county staff member told the board, describing kinship and non-kinship placements and a network of mentors, wraparound teams and partner agencies that support families.
Foster parent Michael Manahan described his family's experience and the emotional work of reunification: "We recently had the privilege of seeing our foster daughter reunified with her biological mother after 683 days in our home," he said, adding that the family now navigates the transition with the support network that helped during placement. Manahan urged community members to join support teams even if they cannot foster: "Can you make a meal for the foster family once a month? Can you bring a gift card? Can you watch their kids for an afternoon so they can get a breather?"
Staff gave several concrete data points on capacity and needs: the county currently lists 61 licensed foster homes, but only eight are available for full-time placement today, and only two of those are available for children over age 10. Staff said that, because of licensing limits and family circumstances, some homes are unavailable at times even though they remain licensed. The county also said it is close to launching a resource-support program aimed at improving services for families willing to care for teens.
Officials and the foster parent emphasized that reunification with biological parents is a frequent goal and can take months or years given the difficult underlying issues courts and agencies must resolve. Staff called out local partners that provide practical support, including Keystone Family Alliance and the Ethel Beaver fund, which can cover items the state does not (sports camps, extracurriculars and similar needs).
The board adopted the proclamation by voice vote and invited attendees to pose for a photograph. County staff left contact information for people seeking more information about fostering in Centre County: 814-355-6755 and fosterscentercounty.com, which staff said lists requirements and program details. The proclamation directs recognition and outreach efforts for the month; no additional county funding was authorized during the meeting.
The board moved on to other agenda items after the photo opportunity and the public presentation concluded.
