A Foster Care Success Story (Update: They’re Adopted!)
When Emily and John first felt called to be foster parents, they also felt intimidated. Both parents work in the medical field with two biological children at home, creating a busy schedule. They didn’t seem like the typical foster family, but the idea never left. They wanted to use their means to help children, so […]
Foster Care Mentors: Support for Youth Leaving Foster Care
The need for family doesn’t end once a young adult ages out of foster care. Over 15,000 youth graduate from state custody each year without achieving permanency, either through reunification with their birth families or through adoption. Mentorship offers the support of a family even after foster care ends, and one of the unsung groups […]
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 […]
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 […]
Growing Together: Building a Stronger Family
Building a stronger family takes patience, love, and hard work. Thankfully, amazing foster and adoptive parents are up for the task. Sara and Kyle began their foster journey by taking short-term placements, offering care for a few weeks at a time. But everything changed when they received a call about three siblings who needed a […]
How a NEEDTOBREATHE Concert Led a Family to Foster
When people think of NEEDTOBREATHE, they often think of the band’s depth of sound, thoughtful lyrics, and incredible musical talent. While all of those things are true, the members will tell you it’s not just about the music. NEEDTOBREATHE believes in music as a vehicle for change and, with this mission in mind, the band […]
The Road to Reunification: Sarah and Mark
The road to reunification for parents whose children were placed in foster care can be long, difficult, and confusing. Parents may find it challenging to navigate the various requirements, or they may face complex issues that take time to resolve. Thankfully, our partner Lifeline Children’s Services makes the process much easier. They offer multiple services […]
Nothing is Random: An Adoption Story
Nothing is random, and our recent interaction with a concertgoer during the NEEDTOBREATHE Caves World Tour proves it. As longtime supporters of For Others, NEEDTOBREATHE graciously shared our mission with fans and signed a Martin guitar for a giveaway. Any attendee who made a donation and tagged us on our socials was automatically entered to […]
Life at the Hill: Sarah’s Story
Sarah’s family has a legacy of foster care. Her grandparents fostered several children, and they adopted her uncle. Sarah felt called to continue the work, but after she and her husband married and had a daughter, they realized they didn’t know where to start. That’s when our partner Coyote Hill came along, and Sarah’s family […]
Limitless Love: How an Aunt and Uncle Became Mom and Dad
“Ben” and “Hailey” believed their days of child-rearing were over. With their biological children in adulthood, the husband and wife planned for a future with just the two of them. They never expected to become parents again. Then they received terrible news; Ben’s sister had passed away suddenly, leaving behind her two small children. We […]
Supporting the Whole Family: An Adoption Story
Adoption marks an incredible milestone when families get to publicly and legally declare their new child a part of their household forever. We sometimes consider “Gotcha Day” as the end goal, but adoption is a lifelong journey full of ups and downs, affecting the whole family. In the Brown family’s case, Wendy and James had […]
