DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize foster families, raise awareness about the foster care system, and highlight the need for more homes for children across Illinois.
According to Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois, more than 365,000 children are currently in foster care across the United States. The organization said reunification, which is safely returning children to their biological families, remains the primary goal whenever possible.
LCFS officials said the agency helped 474 children find permanent homes through adoption, guardianship, or reunification during fiscal year 2025. Of those cases, 43% resulted in children being reunited with their families, which the agency said is the highest reunification rate among agencies in Illinois.
Christin Mathias, a program supervisor with LCFS, said foster parents are at the center of helping children through difficult transitions.
“Foster parents are the core of our agency,” Mathias said. “They play a more vital role within the foster care system, the one I think most people can see or understand from the outside looking in.”
Mathias said children entering foster care are often dealing with significant trauma and major life changes.
“Whether it’s a kid’s first placement or their 10th placement, they’re trying to adjust to a new home with new rules, new boundaries, and potentially a new school,” she explained.
She added that stability is critical for children placed in foster care.
“When kids are brought into care, they are being taken out of their original home, so giving them that stability for them to thrive is very important,” Mathias said.
Tracey Michelle has been a foster parent for 13 years. She told WAND News she's fostered more than 20 children throughout her time as a foster parent.
"We love to help the kids out," she said.
Michelle shared that one of her foster children just graduated from high school. This marked a major milestone for the child, but left a huge impression on the Tracey family.
"We were very excited for her and proud of her," she explained.
LCFS leaders said many people mistakenly assume foster care always leads to adoption, but reunification remains a major focus for agencies and foster families.
“When people hear the term foster care, I think they automatically think of adoption,” Mathias said. “While we do have kids that go on and get adopted, we also have kids with permanency goals of return home, meaning the agency is actively working with families to return them home to their biological parents.”
Mathias said foster parents not only care for children, but also support biological parents as they work toward creating stable environments for their children.
“Not only are foster parents providing a safe and stable environment for our children, but they’re also serving our biological parents,” she said. “They give our kids a chance to have a loving home, but they’re also giving those biological parents a chance to better themselves for when the kids return home.”
Officials said Illinois continues to face a shortage of foster families, leaving many children waiting for temporary homes and support. Mathias said that despite the challenges, seeing children grow and heal keeps her motivated in the work.
“Seeing the kids turn into better versions of themselves,” she said. “They go from kids who might be struggling in school, then we see them have a smile on their face.”
LCFS encourages anyone interested in foster care to learn more about becoming a foster parent and supporting children and families in need. Click here to learn more.
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