May marks National Foster Care Month and Samaritas is launching a statewide effort to raise awareness of the need for good foster parents, and for programs and supports to help strengthen families.
Samaritas is "painting the town purple" with purple lawn signs, purple hats, social media posts, advertisements and open houses to encourage more people to choose fostering and to thank those who have already taken children into their home.
The campaign raises awareness about foster care and encourages many more citizens to get involved in the lives of these youth - whether as their foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways.
Join us by posting on Social Media - frames will be available of Facebook! Use the hashtags:
#Samaritasfosters #fostertoadopt #Fostercare
#Betherock #Ittakesapurplevillage
Samaritas also knows it "takes a purple village" to make sure children are safe and loved. Foster Care Month provides an opportunity for acknowledging the thousands of dedicated foster families and other caring individuals and organizations who are already supporting these young people.
The statewide effort, Samaritas Fosters…, features programs and promotions in metro Detroit, Troy, Ann Arbor, Flint, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Jackson, Lansing, Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo. The blitz uses powerful language to spread the message that Samaritas Fosters love, strong futures, and more through its programs for children and families. The faith-based nonprofit is Michigan’s largest private provider of foster care.
These Samaritas events are happening throughout Foster Care Month:
Foster Parent Orientation:
Ann Arbor: 3820 Packard Road, Suite 170, Ann Arbor, MI 48108: Tuesday, May 1, 10:30 am-1 pm and 5:30-8 pm
Saginaw: 915 Federal Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48607: Tuesday, May 8, 10:30 am-1 pm and 5:30-8 pm
Flint: 1024 Professional Drive, Suite A3, Flint, MI 48532: Tuesday, May 15, 10:30 am-1 pm and 5:30-8 pm
Grand Rapids: 207 E Fulton St in Grand Rapids, MI 49503: Thursday, May 3, 10:30am-1pm and 5:30-8pm
Muskegon: 425 W Western Ave in Muskegon, MI 49440: Thursday, May 10, 11:30am-1pm and 5:30-8pm
Lansing: 1545 Keystone Ave. Lansing, MI 48911 May 1, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and May 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Jackson: 729 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson, MI 49201 May 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and May 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Troy: 2170 E. Big Beaver Rd. Ste. B , Troy, MI 48083 Saturday, May 5th 9-11am
Port Huron: 312 Superior Mall, Port Huron, MI 48060 Friday, May 25th 11am-3pm and 5:30-7:30pm
Kalamazoo: 4341 S. Westnedge Suite 2000, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, Thursday, May 10 9:30-11:30am; Thursday, May 24th 6-8pm
Foster Parent Retention Events:
Grand Rapids: Foster Parent Appreciation Banquet
Ann Arbor: Mother’s Day Respite Day
Kalamazoo: Airway Bowling Event
Foster Parent Recruitment Events:
Port Huron: Thumbs Up Wine Trail Sunday, May 20th 1-5pm
Grand Rapids: A Call to Love with Bishop W.C. Martin Friday, April 27th at 7pm
Grand Rapids: Informational Meeting Thursday, April 26 4-7pm at Calvary GR: Register at mycalvarygr.org
Grand Rapids: The Knickerbocker New Holland Brewery: Saturday, May 5th 2-6pm and Saturday, May 12th 12-6pm
Lansing: Empowered to Connect: At Mount Hope Church: Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 9am-5pm: Conference to learn about foster care opportunities in your community
