1,000 Foster Families and Children to ‘Pitch In’ at Mariners Game

Friday’s event at Safeco Field kicks off National Foster Care Month

SEATTLE, May 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — To celebrate the start of National Foster Care Month, more than 1,000 children and families involved in the foster care system will attend the Seattle Mariners game against the Oakland A’s on Friday, May 1.

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The festivities, which include six foster and kinship youth participating in the ceremonial first pitch, are designed to raise awareness about the nearly 500,000 children in the American foster care system.

For children in foster care, living a “normal” life can seem a distant dream. On Friday, these children will have the opportunity to enjoy a few carefree hours at the game with those who care for them — something all children need.

Casey Family Programs and partner organizations including the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services/Children’s Administration, YMCA, and Catholic Child and Family Services, have teamed up with the Mariners to create “We Are Family Night — Pitch In…Change a Lifetime.” Foster families from Casey Family Programs’ Seattle and Yakima offices will attend, along with families and youth from dozens of partner organizations. Game time is 7:10 p.m.

Opportunities for the media include:

• Photos and interviews with foster families and kinship families
• Foster youth from around the state to participate in pre-game ceremonial first pitch
• Interviews with experts in foster care and child welfare
• Resource booth with information on how individuals can Pitch In…Change a Lifetime

Each May, National Foster Care Month focuses attention on the nearly 500,000 children in foster care in America. The month also salutes the compassionate people who make a difference by serving as foster parents, relative caregivers, mentors, advocates, social workers, and volunteers. Children in foster care need what every child needs to thrive — a safe, loving and permanent home. An evening at the ballpark will give these youth a chance to experience something else that all children need — a fun evening shared with people who care about them, surrounded by a community of people committed to their well-being. Individuals can learn more about foster care at www.fostercaremonth.org, www.casey.org, or www.dshs.wa.gov/ca.

Casey Family Programs is a lead sponsor of National Foster Care Month. The program is in line with Casey’s 2020 Strategy, which states that we will safely reduce the number of youth in foster care by 50 percent by the year 2020 and work with jurisdictions across the country to improve their child welfare systems.

WHAT:

Kickoff of National Foster Care Month

We Are Family Night — Pitch In…Change a Lifetime

Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland A’s

WHEN:

Friday, May 1, 2009

7:10 p.m.

WHERE: Safeco Field

Casey Family Programs – Casey Family Programs is the largest national foundation whose sole mission is to provide and improve — and ultimately prevent the need for — foster care. The foundation draws on its more than 40 years of experience and expert research and analysis to improve the lives of children and youth in foster care in two important ways: by providing direct services and support to foster families; and by promoting improvements in child welfare practice and policy. The Seattle-based foundation was established in 1966 by UPS founder Jim Casey.

National Foster Care Month is a partnership of The Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services; American Public Human Services Association/National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators; Casey Family Programs; Black Administrators in Child Welfare; Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Children’s Rights; Child Welfare League of America; Foster Care Alumni of America; FosterClub; Foster Family-Based Treatment Association; Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative; National Association of Social Workers; National Association of State Foster Care Managers; National CASA; National Foster Care Coalition; National Foster Parent Association; National Indian Child Welfare Association; National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice and Permanency Planning, a service of the Children’s Bureau; Orphan Foundation of America; Voices for America’s Children.

SOURCE Casey Family Programs