FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2025
“Bluebird” Foster Care Awareness Event Planned for May 16
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — Each year for Foster Care Awareness Month, communities around the country hold uplifting Bluebird events to raise awareness and support children in foster care by creating bluebird works of art, one bird to represent each child in foster care.
This year the Charlottesville region’s Bluebird Event will be on Friday, May 16 from 4 to 6 PM on the front lawn of the McGuffey Art Center. Families and community members can place their pre-made bluebirds on McGuffey’s front lawn, or they can create their bluebirds onsite at one of the craft tables. This free, family-friendly event is open to anyone in the community who is interested in showing their support or learning more about the process.
The Foster Care and Adoption Awareness Coalition (FCAAC), People Places, and DePaul Family Services collaborated on this Bluebird Event to raise awareness about local children currently in the Virginia Foster Care System and the need for local foster families.
Children experiencing foster care and other youth in programs range from birth to 21 years of age. These children have endured trauma and adverse childhood experiences. They need compassion, stable environments, and nurturing support to process these experiences and heal.
The 2024-2025 Leaders Lab of Greater Charlottesville cohort is also supporting this year’s Bluebird Event as one of their community projects. Several members of the cohort worked with local foster care agency staff to learn about the need for more foster homes and awareness in the community.
The Bluebird event raises awareness about the need for foster homes, Community Attention Foster Families’ foster closet, and other volunteer opportunities. There are many ways to help our community’s youth. Members of the community are encouraged to stop by to learn more about the kindness of families who take on this responsibility.
About Community Attention Foster Families
Community Attention has been providing foster care services in our area since 1976. We work with children of all ages, providing short, long and permanent placements for children that can on occasion include adoption. Community Attention is a nonprofit public program and a division within Charlottesville’s Department of Human Services.
About the Leaders Lab of Greater Charlottesville
The Leaders Lab of Greater Charlottesville is a leadership training program of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. Current and emerging leaders practice community problem-solving and learn first-hand how people are working together on local issues. Each cohort meets monthly for nine months, September through May.
Media Contact:
Tiffany Polychrones
Program Supervisor
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3735
polychrones@charlottesville.gov