WHEREAS, there are more than 400,000 children in the United States' foster care system; and

WHEREAS, there are more than 4,400 children in Nevada's foster care system on any given day; and

WHEREAS, effective training and support for foster parents improves retention, increases placement stability, and increases capacity to help children and youth in care navigate life's challenges; and

WHEREAS, Raise the Future works together with the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services to support children and families at every step of their journey through the foster care system; and

WHEREAS, the work of Raise the Future allows foster youth the opportunity to have 75 percent higher incomes in adulthood, 110 percent higher likelihood of attending college, are 50 percent less likely to experience homelessness, and are 200 percent more likely to receive mental and emotional health support to help them with long term success; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2023 as

FOSTER CARE MONTH IN NEVADA