Atlanta – The state of Georgia is host to a powerful new national multimedia campaign that sheds light on the challenges of children in foster care ­– and what the public can do to help. It begins this week with a dramatic call to action that empowers people to lift up the lives of children and families right here in Georgia.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue kicked off the campaign Wednesday at an event in the State Capitol Building.

The campaign, called Raise Me Up, is an effort started by Casey Family Programs, a national operating foundation with a mission to provide and improve – and ultimately prevent the need for – foster care. Raise Me Up is a critical component of Casey’s 2020 Strategy, which seeks to safely reduce the number of children in foster care in the U.S. by 50 percent over the next 11 years.

“Keeping our families strong and our children safe requires the commitment of everyone in our community,” said Cari DeSantis, executive vice president of public affairs and communications for Casey Family Programs. “Raise Me Up is more than an awareness campaign. It is a call to action on behalf of children right here in Georgia. A bright future, a good education and a loving, life-long family are all within reach for these children. All it takes is for someone to raise their hand and say they’ll help.”

In Georgia, Casey Family Programs is partnering with the Department of Human Services (DHS) and 12 local nonprofit groups to improve the lives of children in foster care, strengthen families and find safe permanent homes for vulnerable children.

“Mary and I have had the privilege of caring for eight foster children and that experience proved to be one the richest of our lives,” said Gov. Perdue. “But, as this campaign reminds us, you don’t have to raise a child to raise them up. You just have to raise your hand and volunteer to help.”

The campaign uses powerful television, radio and transit advertisements to highlight the problems that can often affect children in foster care – such as mental illness, homelessness and prison – if they are unable to successfully reunify with their families, find another safe, loving and permanent family, or obtain the support they need to strive as independent young adults.

“Every child in Georgia deserves a loving, permanent family,” said DHS Commissioner B.J. Walker. “This campaign is part of a statewide effort to break through the barriers that have kept many foster children from finding a ‘forever family.’”

As the lead partner in launching this ambitious campaign in Georgia, DHS will harness the vast potential of people who want to help by volunteering their time and energy to help organizations working to improve the lives of children and youth in the greater Atlanta area.

Those moved to action by the ads can visit www.RaiseMeUp.org, which will give people more information about foster care and what they can do to help strengthen families and children in their community.

The Web site features many ways to get involved including:

• Mentoring a foster child or youth in after school programs.
• Staffing a telephone helpline for families in need.
• Becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
• Providing temporary assistance for families in crisis.
• Becoming a foster or adoptive family.

Casey Family Programs chose Georgia for the campaign because of the work already underway at DHS to improve the state’s foster care system. Georgia is a leader in improving protection for vulnerable children and strengthening families, preventing the need for children to enter the foster care system and finding permanent homes for children languishing in foster care.

 “We want to build on the success we already are seeing here in Georgia,” DeSantis said. “We know how much the people of Georgia love their children. Raise Me Up helps them put that love into action.”