May is National Foster Care Month— a time to shine a light on how we, as a global community, can rally together to care for youth near and far.
Since the 1970’s Catholic Community Services’ Refugee Foster Care program has been working to set unaccompanied refugee minors up for success as they begin a new chapter in the United States.
Of the world’s 26 million refugees, nearly half are youth under the age of eighteen. Some of these youth have been separated from their families or orphaned. They leave their homes to escape war, persecution, military recruitment, abuse, or trafficking.
Surviving all odds, they are resettled in the United States without their own families. There are less than twenty programs in the United States that resettle unaccompanied refugee minors, and only one in the state of Utah — Catholic Community Services’ Refugee Foster Care.
Through Refugee Foster Care, youth are placed in licensed foster care homes where they receive the same services as children in Utah foster care. These services include financial support, medical care, mental health treatment, case management, education and job training, legal and immigration assistance, and much more.
Though youth exit the program at the age of 21, oftentimes the bond created between a youth and their foster family lasts a lifetime.
As we celebrate National Foster Care Month, CCS would like to take the opportunity to thank the amazing foster parents who make Refugee Foster Care possible.
Every child deserves to experience life in a stable home where they can feel seen, known, and cherished. The dedication of our loving foster families makes that possible.
For more information on how to become a Refugee Foster Parent, visit our Become A Foster Parent page.