What Makes an Ideal Foster Family?
There are about 343,000 children in foster care in the United States, but only 186,000 licensed foster families. Put simply, the math is not in our favor. To end the child welfare crisis in America, we need more licensed foster families than children in foster care, ensuring that no child enters foster care without a […]
Reunification Journey: Esther’s Support Leads to Connection
The goal of foster care is always reunification, when appropriate. Yet the reunification journey poses challenges because of its complexity. It can also be isolating, as many assume that if a parent’s children are in foster care, they must be a bad person. In this desert of support, our partner CarePortal’s care-sharing platform connects kids […]
5 Inspiring People in Foster Care History
Our mission to end the child welfare crisis in our nation draws inspiration from early advocates in foster care history. By learning their stories, we better understand the issues we face today. Contrary to popular belief, child welfare services in the United States started with everyday individuals rather than the government. Men and women saw […]
Championing Mental Health in Child Welfare
Building a brighter future for kids depends on us recognizing the intricate relationship between mental health and child welfare. Children entering state care often carry emotional weights that require thoughtful support. May’s Mental Health Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to highlight mental health in child welfare. Young people’s lives are shaped by influences such […]
Recovery and Reunification: Patrick and Amanda’s Story
Addiction is often misunderstood, especially when it comes to parents who struggle with controlled substances. About 39% of cases when a child is placed in foster care are due to parental drug or alcohol abuse. Yet this doesn’t mean these parents don’t dearly love their children, and their story doesn’t have to end there! Recovery […]
Gaining Confidence After Trauma: Devin’s Story
Trauma manifests in different ways in both childhood and adulthood. Where some may express anxiety or anger, others may become isolated. For Devin, the trauma he experienced growing up resulted in withdrawal from others. After years of believing his voice didn’t matter, he grew nearly non-verbal and struggled to connect with people. But during his […]
Learning How Trauma Affects Children: Steve and Preston’s Story
Without much time to prepare, Steve and his wife Angela welcomed their nephew, Preston, into their home for a kinship placement. They knew the road ahead would be tough. With three sons, adding another child to their family dynamic caused a significant shift. But a deeper challenge took precedence: Preston had experienced severe neglect. This […]
How to Recognize and Report Child Abuse
People who experience abuse may struggle with difficult emotions or circumstances that can make them afraid or unwilling to open up about their abuse. This is especially true of young children, which is why everyone needs to be able to recognize the signs of abuse. Your attentive and caring observation could change a child’s life […]
Celebrating Single Foster Mothers
Single foster mothers are some of the unsung heroes in the world of child welfare. Often navigating the complexities of parenthood alone, these remarkable women provide stability, love, and care to children in need. Here, we recognize their contributions and explore how to support their vital role in fostering. The Growing Need for Ideal Foster […]
Social Workers in Child Services: A Day in the Life
Social workers in child services cover a range of positions, but their main job involves protecting children in crisis. They’re often some of the first responders when a child needs help. When not responding to calls, these social workers take care of multiple ongoing cases, responsibilities, and appointments. They play an essential role in child […]
100 Families Vision Tour with Restore Hope
In late January 2025, For Others hosted the first 100 Families Vision Tour. We brought together state leaders from across the country to explore the groundbreaking 100 Families Model developed by our partner, Restore Hope. Restore Hope has profoundly impacted Arkansas, providing local solutions to problems in their communities, cities, and counties. Since implementing the 100 […]
2024 For Others Annual Report Highlights
Last year took us by surprise in all the best ways, and we know it couldn’t have happened without your support! In the past 12 months, For Others narrowed down our mission, solution, and goals for the future. The result sent us on an accelerated journey we never anticipated. God opened doors we hadn’t even […]
