New Foster Parents Guide: Welcome Your First Foster Placement
Fostering children comes with many responsibilities and requirements, and new foster parents may feel overwhelmed. Even though the work can be incredibly meaningful, bringing a foster child into your home can be intimidating, especially since foster children often have trauma that they bring with them. To help you feel empowered and supported, we’ve compiled some […]
How to Become a Foster Parent in 2026
There are over 343,000 children in foster care across the United States, but only 186,000 foster homes. It often takes months or years before these children reunify with family, find permanency through adoption, or age out of care. During this crucial time, children urgently need ideal foster placements. Yet the licensing process sometimes overwhelms potential […]
Supporting Transition-Aged Youth in Foster Care
Few 18-year-olds are ready to be completely independent, yet thousands of young adults age out of foster care each year without a family or support system. These transition-aged youth (TAYs) enter adulthood alone without guidance, assistance, or encouragement. The outcomes are grim: 90% in chronic poverty, 80% of men incarcerated, and 70% of women pregnant […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Extended Foster Care Explained
In some cases, young adults aging out of foster care qualify for extended time. Extended foster care allows a youth who would otherwise age out of the system to remain in state custody beyond age 18. Laws and requirements vary by state and change frequently, but almost every state provides a version of it. All […]
Prepare for a Home Study: What You Should Know
When looking to foster or adopt, families undergo a home study to determine their readiness to take in a child. A licensed social worker evaluates the home’s safety, runs background checks, and sometimes conducts interviews. Preparing for a home study can be an exciting yet daunting step for families looking to foster or adopt a […]
New Year’s Resolutions for Foster Families
As the New Year approaches, foster families have a unique opportunity to create New Year’s resolutions to support the children in their care. While resolutions sometimes feel like wishful thinking, they also offer a framework for meaningful, achievable goals that enrich the lives of foster families. We share seven manageable New Year’s resolutions for foster […]
Get Involved in Foster Care During the Season of Giving
As the holiday season approaches, many people want to give back to their communities and support causes that matter. For those wishing to help vulnerable children, supporting foster care during the season of giving makes a powerful difference. The season’s spirit of generosity — particularly during Giving Tuesday — presents a unique opportunity to get […]
