May 2025

#NationalFosterCareMonth

Bring the Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Program to Your Community

Three people holding Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Week materials, including coloring pages and a book. Two are wearing Girl Scouts vests with badges.

The Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Program was created by adoptive mom Marcy Bursac in partnership with Girl Scouts Courtney Kirks and Macey Thompson for their Silver Award.

Launched in 2023 across five school districts in two Missouri counties, the Junior Edition is a free, ready-to-use, one-week reading experience for elementary students each May during National Foster Care Month.

In 2026, a Teen Edition will launch for middle and high school students as a month-long experience during National Adoption Month in November.

With 1 in 25 students being adopted, many children have personal connections to adoption and foster care—but often don’t see these topics reflected in their learning. This program invites students to explore how different family paths shape who we become and highlights the diversity of forever families—single parents, grandparents, and couples of all kinds.

Your students will enjoy a fun and meaningful lesson as they learn about family, love, care, and belonging.

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Join the Movement

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Ambassador Webinar

Bring this lesson to your students!

Complete this short form to download the Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Program digital lesson plan and take the first step in teaching this important lesson.

Your participation helps us track program expansion and ensure more students learn about foster care adoption and belonging.

Real Classrooms. Real Impact.

  • "I think this is so great to get kids thinking about and spreading awareness!"

    - Kindergarten teacher

  • "This lesson was so meaningful to my son last year. He was adopted through foster care and it helped his friends understand what it meant to be adopted."

    -Lindsay, Adoptive Mom

  • "What a wonderful lesson! It was truly touching to discuss forever families with my students!"

    - 3rd grade teacher

swag

Every purchase makes a difference—helping fund the Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Program and empowering students to learn about belonging, empathy, and the power of forever families.

When you buy a tee or hat, you’re not just repping a movement—you’re helping bring foster care adoption stories into classrooms across the country.

Wear it proudly. Gift it generously. Share the mission.
Because children waiting to be adopted deserve to be seen.

Adult & Youth T-Shirt

Women’s T-Shirt

Youth Cap

THE BOOK

Two young girls sitting together, one holding a children's book titled 'Are You a Forever Family?' with an illustration of diverse family members on the cover.
Podcast episode titled 'The Forgotten Adoption Option' featuring Jamie Strauss and Linda Armbruster, elementary educators, discussing a foster care adoption awareness reading program for schools. Includes a play button and audio controls.

How can teachers introduce foster care adoption awareness in their classrooms?


In this episode, Mrs. Strauss, a kindergarten teacher, and Mrs. Armbruster, a third grade teacher, share their experiences piloting and teaching the Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Program—plus insights from co-presenting at a statewide educators' conference.

Colorful illustration of three cartoon characters standing together, featuring distinctively colorful hair and attire.

Are you a teacher that taught the Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Program lesson? Share your feedback here.