National Adoption Month: A Brief History of Adoption
Every November, National Adoption Month provides a time to celebrate adoptive families, support those navigating the adoption process, and raise awareness for children still waiting for permanent homes. However, the history of adoption traces its roots to ancient times. It spans cultures and tells the story of evolving knowledge about caring for children. This National […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A History of Foster Care in the United States
From the 1800s to today, the care for children without families in America shifted from orphanages to foster care. We owe many amazing individuals our thanks for their passion for the well-being of our nation’s children. Yet despite significant advances, the foster care system faces several challenges. A significant number of children still enter foster […]
What Is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma leaves a lasting mark. It often causes long-term effects, including emotional challenges like chronic anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder; behavioral changes such as increased aggression or substance abuse; difficulties in forming healthy relationships; and much more. That’s why trauma needs to be taken into account in settings like the foster care system, where […]
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 […]
Childhood Trauma and the Importance of Good Memories
Childhood, often reminisced about with fondness, forms the bedrock of who we are as adults. From the joyous giggles of a birthday party to comforting lullabies sung at night, childhood memories become woven into the very fabric of our beings. They shape and impact us well into adulthood. Yet, for many children — especially those […]
Holiday Giving: Creative Ways to Budget
Nothing embodies the spirit of the holiday season quite like generosity. Holiday giving allows us to focus on others, support efforts we care deeply about, and inspire joy and kindness in those around us. But since budgets are notoriously tighter in the winter months, it can be easy to let opportunities for giving pass us […]
A Child’s First Trick-or-Treat: A Foster Care Story
Many of us have photos of ourselves or our children in costumes starting from infancy. But for many children in foster care, those photos don’t exist. Over one-third of kids in foster care will live in three or more separate homes in one year, making it hard to create and preserve childhood memories. Four-year-old “E” […]
7 Signs a Nonprofit is Trustworthy
Today, there are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. When you look to donate your money, time, or effort to a worthy cause, you’ve got lots of options — maybe too many. While you can narrow your choices down based on the missions and values that resonate the most with you, it’s […]
