World Care Day
The planet’s largest celebration of children currently in foster care or who have had a foster care experience, World Care Day seeks to raise awareness about the continual need for quality care while increasing opportunities to hear the voices of these children. How to Celebrate World Care Day Looking for ideas...
Mobilize foster care advocacy and family recruitment by amplifying children's voices and sharing real stories of resilience and systemic change needs.
- Share foster care survivor testimonials and policy wins to inspire action
- Recruit new foster families with impact-driven storytelling and local support resources
- Highlight the annual theme (e.g., 'Celebrating Every Journey') to frame systemic change narratives
- Partner with educators and social workers to normalize foster care conversations in communities
World Care Day was founded with the purpose of bringing encouragement and awareness to the needs of children all over the globe whose family members are not able to take care of them for whatever reason.
The event seems to have gotten its start in Australia through the efforts of the Create Foundation, but it has since grown in size and scope, building in popularity and increasing its reach.
Each year, the organizers of World Care Day provide the public with a special theme that embraces a targeted focus for the event.
Some of the past themes for events have included “Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover, Embrace Our Stories Instead” in 2023 and “Journey of Care” in 2024, and “Celebrating Every Journey” in 2025. Every year, check out the theme, stay connected and show support for those on their foster care journey.
Read Quotes from Children in Care
One of the important goals of World Care Day is to provide a megaphone for children’s voices who need to be heard. In honor of this day, perhaps it would be a good idea to do some research and consider different quotes of children who grew up in out-of-home care. Get started with some of these words from children about he importance of World Care Day: “It’s not just a day to celebrate the policy change we have won, but also to focus on how much more needs to change.”“It’s really important that they listen to you. You’re still growing up and your choices should be heard.” “If kids really participate, they get a better life.”
Consider Becoming a Foster Parent
For some families, World Care Day is the right time to consider becoming a foster family or care family. While it is a large commitment, it is also a life-changing endeavor that can make a huge difference in the lives of children and the world at large. This might be the right time for those interested in become foster parents to do a bit of research, contact the right organizations, and find out if a commitment to foster care would be a good fit.
Share Your Foster Care Story
Those who grew up in care environments, wehether positive or not-so positive, might consider raising awareness for World Care Day by sharing their own stories. Write a blog, use a social media platform, make a letter to the editor for a local newspaper or consider some other way of bringing more clarity to the world, one story at a time. World Care Day Timeline1853First modern legal framework for foster family care in the United StatesMassachusetts passes the first statewide law that formally authorizes and regulates placing children with foster families instead of in almshouses, helping to establish foster care as a preferred alternative to institutional relief.1951Founding of the UK’s first national advocacy group for children in institutional careFormer resident Leila Rendel helps launch what becomes the National Association of Young People in Care, a precursor to later “care leaver” and care-experienced advocacy groups that center young people’s voices about life in care.1959UN Declaration of the Rights of the ChildThe United Nations General Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, affirming that children deprived of a family environment are entitled to special protection and assistance from the state, which becomes a foundation for later reforms in foster and residential care.[1]1989UN Convention on the Rights of the ChildThe Convention on the Rights of the Child is adopted by the UN General Assembly, legally obligating ratifying states to consider the best interests of the child, to hear children’s views in decisions that affect them, and to provide special protection to children unable to live with their families.[1]1991Formation of the British Association of Young People in Care (later Become)The British Association of Young People in Care is founded to provide advocacy, advice, and a public platform for children in state care and care leavers in England, helping to normalize youth-led storytelling and campaigning about care experience.2009UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of ChildrenThe UN General Assembly welcomes the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, which stress that children should grow up in a supportive, family-like setting wherever possible, limit the use of large residential institutions, and call for children’s participation in decisions about their own care.[1]2013International Care Leavers’ Conferences strengthen global youth voiceCare-experienced young adults from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia gather at early international Care Leavers’ Conferences, building cross-border networks that promote peer support, storytelling, and direct participation in shaping child welfare policy and practice.
First modern legal framework for foster family care in the United States
Massachusetts passes the first statewide law that formally authorizes and regulates placing children with foster families instead of in almshouses, helping to establish foster care as a preferred alternative to institutional relief.
Founding of the UK’s first national advocacy group for children in institutional care
Former resident Leila Rendel helps launch what becomes the National Association of Young People in Care, a precursor to later “care leaver” and care-experienced advocacy groups that center young people’s voices about life in care.
UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child
The United Nations General Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, affirming that children deprived of a family environment are entitled to special protection and assistance from the state, which becomes a foundation for later reforms in foster and residential care. [1]
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is adopted by the UN General Assembly, legally obligating ratifying states to consider the best interests of the child, to hear children’s views in decisions that affect them, and to provide special protection to children unable to live with their families. [1]
Formation of the British Association of Young People in Care (later Become)
The British Association of Young People in Care is founded to provide advocacy, advice, and a public platform for children in state care and care leavers in England, helping to normalize youth-led storytelling and campaigning about care experience.
UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children
The UN General Assembly welcomes the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, which stress that children should grow up in a supportive, family-like setting wherever possible, limit the use of large residential institutions, and call for children’s participation in decisions about their own care. [1]
International Care Leavers’ Conferences strengthen global youth voice
Care-experienced young adults from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia gather at early international Care Leavers’ Conferences, building cross-border networks that promote peer support, storytelling, and direct participation in shaping child welfare policy and practice.