The Ashe County Board of Commissioners convened on April 21, 2025, to address several key agenda items, beginning with a significant proclamation recognizing May as National Foster Care Month and May 31 as National Foster Parent Appreciation Day.

Ed Hurst, the county's foster care supervisor, introduced Tori Logel, a Foster Care Licensing Adoption Worker Specialist, who read the proclamation. The proclamation emphasized the vital role of foster parents and kinship caregivers in providing stability and support to children in need. It highlighted that approximately 10,094 children in North Carolina are currently in foster care, with 39 of those in Ashe County, including six young adults in the extended foster care program.

The proclamation called for community involvement in supporting foster families and recruiting new foster parents, particularly for older youth and children with special needs. The Board unanimously adopted the proclamation, reinforcing the importance of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of foster families and child welfare professionals.

Following the proclamation, the meeting briefly touched on a memorandum of agreement (MOA), which was postponed for discussion at a future meeting. The session concluded with a commitment to continue addressing the needs of children in foster care and the importance of community engagement in these efforts.