| WHEREAS, May 2011
has been designated as Forster Care Month in the
Virgin Islands; and
WHEREAS, foster
families open their hearts and homes to care for
children whose families are in crisis, play a
vital role helping children and families heal
and reconnect, and launching children into successful
adulthood; and
WHEREAS,
nationwide, more than 170,000 families care for
over 500,000 children whose parents can't take
care of them; and
WHEREAS, the family, serving as the primary source of love, identity, self-esteem, and support, is the very foundation of our communities and our Territory; and
WHEREAS, foster families are the resource used most
frequently to provide the loving guardianship and guidance that these
children need and deserve; and
WHEREAS, Foster Care Month presents an opportunity for
all. of us to emphasize in foster care the well-being of the
child, and the establishment of a sense of permanence
and belonging; and
WHEREAS, the tasks facing foster parents often
include special challenges, such as care of a ch1ld who is
physically or mentally handicapped or who has been
emotionally or physically abused; and
WHEREAS, Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to offer public thanks for the sacrifices and dedication of the many foster parents and concerned professionals
working in the field of foster care; and
WHEREAS, the jobs of foster parents require extraordinary patience and love, and their rewards are often reaped only years after their primary labor is done -when the child is grown and fully appreciates what has been done for him or her I or when society pauses to
recognize the good they have accomplished;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John P.
de Jonqh, Jr., Governor of the
United States Virgin Is1ands, by virtue of the authority vested
in me by the Revised Organic Act of 1954, as amended,
do hereby proclaim the month of May 2011 as
"Foster Care Month" in the United States
Virgin Islands. I call upon the people of the Virgin Islands to join with me in showing our appreciation to the many foster parents and professionals working in the field of foster care for their contributions, dedication, and love given to foster children in the Territory.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause
the Seal. of the Government of the Virgin Islands
of the United States to be affixed at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin
Islands, this 20th day of April, A.D., 2011.
John P.
de Jongh, Jr.
Governor
Attest:
Gregory
R. Francis
Lieutenant Governor
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