WHEREAS, all children deserve to grow up in safe and loving homes with caregivers that nurture their health, happiness, and well-being, and National Foster Care Month is an opportunity to recognize families dedicated to supporting children and raise awareness of the need for more foster families in Nevada; and

WHEREAS, there were 3,989 children and youth in foster care in Nevada on the last day of the year 2023; and

WHEREAS, foster and kinship families play a crucial role in the lives of children, youth, and families in crisis to support reunification whenever possible; and

WHEREAS, Nevada is experiencing a shortage of foster parents in every community and needs families willing to care for children, teens, children with complex behavioral and mental health needs, and sibling groups; and

WHEREAS, Nevada has continued the Quality Parenting Initiative to support foster families in offering skilled, nurturing, prudent parenting while helping maintain connections with the foster child's family; and

WHEREAS, Nevada is committed to promoting an effective and responsive foster care system by making it easier for relative and fictive kin caregivers to participate in the foster care system, thereby allowing children to maintain a connection to their families; and

WHEREAS, we all play a role in ensuring Nevada's children are healthy, safe, and thriving in every Nevada community;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2024 as

FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH IN NEVADA