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Foster Families and Children to 'Pitch In' at Diamondbacks Game

Posted on: Friday, 29 May 2009, 08:00 CDT

May 30 event celebrates National Foster Care Month

PHOENIX, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To celebrate National Foster Care Month, nearly 2,000 children and families involved in the foster care system will attend the Arizona Diamondbacks game on Saturday, May 30. Casey Family Programs is coordinating the event, in association with numerous organizations in the area including the Arizona Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents, Arizona's Children Association, and the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Department of Children, Youth and Families, to honor all those who work tirelessly in the areas of foster care, kinship care, and adoption.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070116/CASEYFAMILYLOGO)

For children in foster care, living a "normal" life can seem a distant dream. On Saturday these children will have the opportunity to enjoy a few carefree hours at the ballpark with those who care for them -- something all children need.

At the ballpark, the public will be encouraged to "Pitch In ... Change a Lifetime" for children and youth in foster care. The Diamondbacks will provide announcements during the game and a special kiosk in the stadium's Community Corner will have information on what everyone can do to help youth and families. This is the sixth year of the popular event led by Casey's Arizona Field Office in Phoenix. Saturday's game begins at 1:10 p.m. at Chase Field where the Diamondbacks will host the Atlanta Braves.

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.

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.

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. Visit the Web site at www.casey.org.

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

Source: PR Newswire

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