What Is Child Welfare? A Clear Guide to How the System Works
When safety breaks down at home, child welfare becomes the bridge to stability. It begins with prevention and safe reunification whenever possible. If not, kinship and foster care, eventually adoption, become the next best options. The system spans courts, caseworkers, nonprofits, and caregivers, all working toward three goals: safety, permanency, and well-being. In this article, we take a […]
Apps for Foster Parents: Foster Friendly and More
Apps for foster parents put effective support at their fingertips. In the child welfare space, nonprofits and government agencies are embracing digital resources. Among their number is our Tennessee-based partner, the Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative (GFBCI). With our help, the GFBCI created Every Child TN to better serve children and families involved in foster […]
Teens Waiting for Adoption: Dreaming of a Family
Older youth and young adults in foster care face a much lower adoption rate than younger children. Because of this, teens waiting for adoption often need to wait for a long time. The most recent national data show: There are thousands of older teens waiting for adoption, and our partner Timothy Hill Ranch is committed […]
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 […]
Community Support for Families: How Collective Care Works
What does a healthy community look like? Some may think of manicured lawns and flower beds, but the true mark of a healthy community is its ability to provide a safe and supportive environment for families and children to thrive. Yet in the United States, many families and children face a crisis of well-being. Oftentimes, […]
Reunification After Foster Care: A Father’s Fight for His Children
Parents seeking reunification after foster care must meet state requirements and follow specific steps. The process ensures a safe transition from foster care, but without guidance, the steps to reunify can overwhelm some parents. This is especially true for parents with few resources or little support. Our partner, Restore Hope, provides that guidance and support […]
Transition-Aged Youth In Foster Care: Community Heals
Perhaps the most often-overlooked population affected by the child welfare crisis is transition-aged youth. When it comes to foster care in particular, most people envision children between infancy and early teens. Yet, 13% of all kids in foster care are 17 or older (most states offer extended foster care for qualifying youth). Over 15,000 transition-aged […]
Parent Coaching for Families: How Trauma-Informed Care Preserved a Kinship Home
Trauma often strains relationships and threatens a family’s well-being, whether they’re foster, kinship, adoptive, or biological. When not treated, the effects may lead to broken or unhealthy relationships. Our partner, Chosen Care, exists to help children and their families connect through parent coaching. By using psychology-based strategies and trauma-informed care, they help build strong, stable […]
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 […]
Prevent Foster Care: One Mom’s Journey Through the 100 Families Program
Every year, thousands of families in crisis risk separation–not because of abuse or neglect, but because they struggle with one or more of the 13 social determinants of health. Too often, a lack of coordination between local resources keeps families from getting the help they need. That’s where our partner Restore Hope steps in. Through […]
From Foster Care to Fatherhood: Daniel’s Story
Some children placed in foster care come from incredibly painful circumstances. In those cases, it’s more important than ever to provide ideal family placements that meet their specific needs. Our partner, Coyote Hill, provides a safe and nurturing environment for children impacted by foster care. They recruit and support foster parents through the licensing process […]
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 […]
