Tom Reed joined with members of Congress to recognize May as “National Foster Care Month” and took the opportunity to meet with a foster youth from Upstate New York. “We care about the young people in foster care. They deserve a place to call home with a family that loves and supports them. They are not forgotten, and it’s only right that we do everything we can to help them succeed,” said Reed.

As part of this recognition, Reed participated in Foster Youth Shadow day, and was shadowed by Anne Aombe, a foster care youth from Manlius, New York. Ms. Aombe is a rising sophomore at Le Moyne College in Syracuse.

“Anne is a remarkable young lady with enormous potential. We are extremely proud of her for overcoming life’s challenges and have no doubt of the bright future ahead of her,” said Reed.

Foster Youth Shadow day is sponsored by the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, the National Foster Youth Institute, Casey Family Programs, Youth Villages and Foster Club. The event provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to learn more about the foster care system firsthand. Nearly 100 foster youths from across the United States came to Washington, DC to participate in the annual event.

"Foster care month is about more than words--it is about turning our commitment into real action that will better a system that hundreds of thousands of young people, just like Anne, rely on," Reed concluded.

In the United States, over 400,000 young people are looking for permanent homes with caring parents.

To learn more about becoming a foster parent, visit the New York State Office of Children and Family Services at http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/fostercare/.