May is Foster Care Awareness Month—a time to consider the children, families, and professionals involved in the child welfare system and what we can do to support them.
If you’ve ever looked at our city’s foster care community and thought, “I don’t know how to help,” maybe this month can be a starting point for you! Whether you have five minutes or five hours, there’s a place for you this May.
Every child deserves a safe, stable family. That’s not a statement we take lightly. It’s the reason The Riverside Project exists, and why we’re asking you to show up this May.
Houston is home to thousands of children in foster care, as well as many more who have recently aged out of the system. Behind each of those numbers is a real child, a real family, and a real community that needs more than awareness this May… they need action.
Here are three ways we want to invite you into work this May:
01 — Connect
One of the most powerful things you can do for a family is simply show up. Connection is the foundation of healing… and that can start with you.
Ways to Connect
- Attend a local event this month. Look for foster care awareness gatherings in your area or check out some of the events our team is organizing this May. Join us for our Annual Celebration Breakfast, where we’ll reflect together on the progress happening across Houston, share stories of impact, and look ahead to what’s possible when we continue working as one so families can heal and children can thrive.
- Follow and share The Riverside Project on social media (we’re on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn). This will help keep the needs of our city’s foster care community in front of you and your network all year round—helping you stay connected with the cause.
- Reach out to a foster or adoptive family you already know. A meal, a text, an offer to run errands. It’s the small things that can make a huge difference for these families.
- Ask your church, workplace, or neighborhood group: “What are we doing this month?” We know that organizations want to help, but they don’t always know how. This month is a great opportunity to start the conversation. If your church is ready to get involved, reach out to our Church Mobilization specialists to learn more about what this can look like, or attend one of our free Church Leader Trainings (the next one is on May 21st!)
Explore the events our team is running this May >>
02 — Learn
It can be hard to advocate for what you don’t understand.
The good news? We’ve created a bank of resources to help you along the journey!
Places to Start
- Read up on Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). This is a research-backed approach to caring for children who have experienced trauma. A perfect introduction to this topic is our most downloaded episode of The Riverside Project Podcast: What is TBRI? If you want to dive deeper into this trauma-informed framework, check out our TBRI training offerings.
- Listen to stories. Podcasts, books, and interviews from foster alumni can reshape how you understand the system. Our documentary, AS ONE, is a great starting place. It tells four powerful stories from the foster care community right here in Houston—and gives you a closer look at many different sides of the system.
- Download free resources from The Riverside Project today. Whether it’s our free guides for current or prospective foster parents, our 31 Creative Ways to Support Foster Families guide, or simply a blog or podcast we’ve published, take advantage of the resources our team has created for you! When you have a deeper understanding of Houston’s foster care system, you will be better equipped to provide meaningful support to the vulnerable children and families in our city.
03 — Give
Generosity takes a lot of forms—your time, your money, your network, or your business. And all of it matters. Here’s how to put it to work this May.
Make a One-Time Gift
Your donation directly supports the families we walk alongside in Houston. Every dollar goes toward mobilizing churches, strengthening families, and uniting our community.
Become a Monthly Donor
Consistent support means consistent care. Joining The Riverside Project’s monthly giving community is one of the most impactful ways to sustain this work over the long haul.
Connect Through Your Business
Own a business or lead a team? There are meaningful ways to partner with us — from hosting a drive, inviting us to share with your teams, or donating resources.
When organizations step up to partner with us, something powerful happens. We are able to connect children and families in need with life-changing support faster and more effectively.
Like when a local auto repair shop donated a car to a mom after hers caught fire—giving her the ability to get to work again and safely care for her kids.
READ: Donating a Free Car to a Single Mother in Need: How Houston Stepped Up
Or how a furniture bank is giving families involved in foster care the gift of security and dignity.
LISTEN: Ensuring No Child Sleeps on the Floor (feat. Oli Mohammad, Houston Furniture Bank)
No contribution is too small to make a difference. Not sure how your business’s resources can be utilized? We’re here to help you figure that out! Reach out to find out how your organization can get involved this May.
We Cannot All Do the Same Thing… But We Can All Do Something.
That’s the truth we keep coming back to. Foster care is a community issue. It doesn’t get solved by just a handful of people. It gets solved by a whole city deciding it’s everyone’s responsibility.
This May, you have a chance to be part of something bigger than awareness.
Connect with a family.
Learn something that changes how you see our city.
Give in a way that lasts.
One city. One purpose. One family.