Finding Safety: A Mother’s Reflection During Foster Care Awareness Month

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and this year, my reflection comes from a place that feels both personal and powerful. It came while sitting beside my son, watching a Disney film that I had heard about but had not fully taken in until now, .

As a mother, as a leader, and as someone who believes in the power of family and community, this movie did more than entertain. It stirred something deeper.

I have always loved Disney. It has been a part of my life in different seasons, first with my older son and now again with my youngest. There is something meaningful about sitting together, watching a story unfold, and then talking through it afterward. Those moments matter. They build connection. They build understanding. And sometimes, they open our eyes.

This time, the story hit differently.

“Safety” tells the true story of a young man navigating college football while quietly stepping into a role far greater than what anyone could see on the field. He becomes the caregiver for his younger brother, carrying responsibilities that many adults struggle to manage. Beneath the football highlights is a reality that many children and families know all too well: instability, limited resources, and the uncertainty of what comes next.

As I watched, I could not help but think about the children we serve every day through Atlanta CASA.

Children who are navigating foster care.

Children who are placed in kinship care arrangements.

Children whose lives are impacted by decisions around termination of parental rights.

Children who need someone consistent, someone present, someone advocating for their best interest.

The younger brother in the film did not just need shelter. He needed stability. He needed reassurance. He needed someone to stand in the gap.

And that is exactly what CASA volunteers do.

They stand in the gap.

They show up when systems feel overwhelming. They advocate when a child does not have a voice in the room. They bring clarity, consistency, and care into situations that can often feel uncertain and complex.

What struck me most about this story was not just the love between the brothers, but the reality that love alone is not always enough without support. It takes community. It takes systems working together. It takes people who are willing to say, “I see this child, and I am not walking away.”

As a CEO, I see the data. I see the numbers. I see the outcomes.

But as a mother, sitting on the couch with my son, I felt the story.

I thought about what it would mean for a child to rely on one person who is doing everything they can, yet still needs help. I thought about how many families are navigating similar situations quietly. And I thought about the role each of us can play.

Foster Care Awareness Month is not just about recognizing a system. It is about recognizing people. It is about recognizing children who deserve stability and opportunity. It is about recognizing caregivers, both biological and kinship, who are doing their best with what they have. And it is about recognizing the power of advocacy.

This month, I invite you to reflect.

Reflect on the role of community.

Reflect on the importance of showing up.

Reflect on what it means to be a consistent presence in the life of a child.

Because behind every case, every placement, every court decision, there is a story.

And every story deserves someone who cares enough to be part of a better ending.