Daycare for Kids in Foster Care: Vouchers, Waitlists, and What to Ask For
Finding daycare for kids in foster care often becomes urgent very quickly. A new placement can happen with little warning, and caregivers need safe, reliable care right away so they can work, attend appointments, and help a child settle into a new routine. While help is available, the process can be confusing. Child care vouchers, […]
The Biggest Barriers to Family Reunification (And How You Can Help)
The primary goal of foster care is almost always to reunite children with their birth families. Many people mistakenly think it depends entirely on the biological parents’ willingness, but in reality, many factors affect the timing and success of reunification. Families frequently face practical, financial, and systemic challenges that delay a child’s return home, even […]
Understanding Normalcy Rules in Foster Care: Travel, Sleepovers, Sports
For many children, growing up includes sleepovers, school trips, birthday parties, sports, church retreats, movie nights, summer camp, and visits with friends. For children in foster care, these normal everyday experiences can sometimes raise questions about safety and permission. Foster parents may wonder: Can my foster child go on a sleepover? Join a sports team? […]
Your Roadmap to Help Kids and Families Impacted by Foster Care
If you’ve spent any time in foster care communities on social media, you’ve likely encountered Laura, the incredible voice behind the Instagram account @foster.parenting. Laura is a content creator and mentor who draws from her experiences as a therapeutic foster parent, as well as stories and feedback shared by the online community she’s built. With […]
Foster Family Recruitment and Retention: A Concierge Approach
Across the United States, there are more children in foster care than available foster homes. The challenge isn’t only foster family recruitment, but also foster family retention. Many begin the licensing process but never complete it, and other foster parents quit due to preventable barriers. That’s where the Every Child model and the new Every […]
How to Talk to Your Child About Foster Care and Adoption
When families decide to explore the exciting journey of foster care or adoption, it likely raises questions for biological kids in the home. Helping biological children understand the process builds a supportive and welcoming environment for the whole family. Yet many parents struggle to start this big conversation. If you’re nervous about how to talk to your child about […]
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Adverse childhood experiences, also known as ACEs, refer to traumatic events that occur during a child’s formative years. These range from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse to neglect, household dysfunction, or witnessing violence. Studies show that such experiences can lead to numerous negative outcomes, particularly when it comes to child development. What Are Adverse Childhood […]
Signs of Child Abuse and How to Report It
Child abuse often goes unreported, not because people don’t care, but because many people aren’t sure what to look for or what to do when something feels wrong. Children who experience abuse may struggle to tell someone due to fear or confusion. That’s why adults, especially those who regularly interact with children, need to recognize […]
The Power of Youth Mentorship: When Someone Stays
Katherine often says, “I don’t remember much of my story.” At just four years old, she and her brother were removed from their home due to abuse. Katherine remained nonverbal until age seven, carrying memories too heavy for words that surfaced only in fragments. After moving through multiple foster homes, the siblings were eventually separated. […]
The Rights of Children in Foster Care
For a child entering foster care, nearly everything changes at once: where they live, who they see each day, and what tomorrow might look like. During that upheaval, children deserve respect and protection. These rights are not abstract ideals; they shape how children experience safety, belonging, education, and family connection while in care. Recognizing and honoring these rights makes the […]
Trauma-Informed Residential Care for Youth in Foster Care
Thousands of children enter foster care each year due to abuse, neglect, and unsafe living conditions. Many arrive carrying deep trauma that requires specialized, trauma-informed care to begin healing. Trauma-informed care is a compassionate and empathetic approach that recognizes and responds to the impact of traumatic experiences in a child’s life. Diane was one of […]
5 Influential Women in Foster Care You Should Know About
Women’s History Month marks a special time to celebrate the women in our lives and remember outstanding women from our past. The five influential women in foster care listed below believed in the value, dignity, and importance of children. They became champions of child welfare and made foundational changes to the system. We honor them […]
