The Monroe County commissioners approved two designations for May. It is Foster Care Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.

Commissioner John Christy, chairman of the commissioners, read the proclamation for Foster Care Awareness Month, which stated that “children and youth enter foster care through no fault of their own due to abuse, neglect or family challenges and they deserve safety, stability and the opportunity to grow in supportive environments.” It also recognized the hard work of the case workers, foster parents, kinship caregivers, and community partners to support, nurture these children and help them to thrive.

“Foster care awareness month serves as an opportunity to recognize the resilience of children, youth, and foster care celebrate the dedication of foster families and professionals and encourage individuals, individual organizations and committees to support efforts that strengthen families and improve outcomes for children,” Christy read.

Diane Rogers, program manager for Monroe County Children and Youth Services, and two of her staff members, Sandra James, a recruiter and trainer, and Casey Anne Athey, a foster parent coordinator, were on hand for the proclamation and to receive the certificate.

“How many foster families?” Christy asked. Rogers answered 70, and said about half of their families stopped taking children during the pandemic and they haven’t regained what they lost. She said that is the case across the country.

Rogers said there are 121 children in foster care in Monroe County, 14,000 in Pennsylvania, 330,000 nationwide. She thanked the commissioners for helping people to become more aware of foster care and the need for foster parents.

May is also Mental Health Awareness month, and Commissioner David Parker read the proclamation, which stated that “mental health is a key component of every individual’s overall physical health and emotional well-being.”

The proclamation stated that “mental health conditions are common and impact people of all races, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. And whereas prevention, early identification, intervention and treatment of mental health conditions can improve and even save lives. And whereas mental health and advocacy is crucial to raising public awareness, breaking down stigma and discrimination, encouraging self-advocacy and delivering timely and quality mental health services.”

The purpose of Mental Health Awareness Month is to break down the stigma of mental health challenges, so that people will seek help.

Accepting the certificate for the proclamation was Detective William Parrish, a crisis coordinator in the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. He has been trained to help people experiencing a mental health crisis when police are called to respond to an emergency.

The county has lawn signs available for residents to put in their yard to let the public know about mental health.

Certificates were also given to the following: Day of Prayer in Monroe County, May 6; Bushkill Fire Company, 90th Year Celebration; Monroe County Historical Association, grand reopening; The Love Vibe Salon, grand opening; Wellness City, grand opening; Aidan Koprowski, Eagle Scout; and Regis Rinaldy Pabon, U.S. Military Service.