Each May, National Foster Care Month shines a spotlight on the more than 391,000 children and youth in foster care across the United States, and the caregivers, professionals, and advocates working tirelessly on their behalf. It’s a time to honor the resilience of children and families navigating the foster care system and to recognize the need for continued awareness, compassion, and action within our communities.

For Catholic Guardian Services (CGS), an agency of Catholic Charities New York. They serve over 3,000 individuals and 1,400 families each day. This month is a powerful reminder of their ongoing mission: to provide help, create hope, and preserve dignity.

CGS plays a vital role in the foster care landscape in New York City by offering a wraparound system of services that meet children where they are, emotionally, medically, and academically. From the moment a child enters care, they are evaluated and connected to the resources they need to thrive.

The goal is always to keep children stable, supported, and on track. That means supporting not just the child but the entire foster family unit.Children entering foster care often face significant trauma from family separation or abuse. As such, emotional regulation and behavioral challenges are common.

National Foster Care Month is a powerful time of reflection and recognition—and at Catholic Charities New York, it’s also an opportunity to hear directly from those leading this vital work. We spoke with Grace Poppe, Senior Director of Social Services at Catholic Guardian Services, to gain insight into what makes a lasting difference in the lives of children in care.

At CGS, foster parents are chosen not only for their commitment but for their character. “We look for individuals who are empathetic, nonjudgmental, and deeply patient,” Poppe shared. “Those qualities help children build trust. When a foster parent can see past a child’s behavior and respond with understanding, it changes everything.”

Poppe shared one foster parent’s story that stands out: she cared for a medically fragile child with complex needs and never gave up, coordinating with doctors, schools, and birth family members to ensure he got the care he needed. The child, once considered unlikely to meet developmental milestones, was eventually adopted and is now thriving.

“She didn’t just take care of the child; she became a bridge to a better future,” said Poppe.

National Foster Care Month is also about changing perceptions. Too often, foster care is seen only through a lens of brokenness. But at CGS, it’s about restoration and resilience. Foster parents often stay in touch with biological families even after reunification, by checking in, offering support, and remaining part of a child’s extended network of care.

As Poppe reflects:

We don’t just place children in homes; we build a foundation of support that stays with them through every stage of their journey.

This spirit of ongoing care is at the heart of National Foster Care Month, and it echoes the broader mission of Catholic Charities of New York: to provide help and create hope for all who turn to us. Through advocacy, partnership, and unwavering commitment, Catholic Guardian Services and Catholic Charities together uplift the most vulnerable, building stronger, more compassionate communities where every child can thrive.

As we move forward, we know the work continues, and at Catholic Charities New York, our mission will always be to provide help and create hope for those in need. Learn more about how you can get involved.