The Riverside Project

Imagine a typical day for the Scott family—a busy, dedicated foster family with three young children. Each week, they balance doctors’ appointments, school events, and last-minute meetings, all while providing the love and care the children in their care need to thrive. Yet, unlike most families, the Scotts can’t simply call on trusted friends and family to help when things get overwhelming. Foster parents, by law, can only use babysitters who are specially trained and certified to care for children in foster care. This requirement, though crucial, makes it difficult for families to find quick, trusted support in times of need. Thanks to our generous partners, however, The Riverside Project’s Babysitting Collaborative provides foster families like the Scotts access to qualified, compassionate babysitters who have undergone the necessary training and certification. For them, this isn’t just practical help—it’s a lifeline. To support more families, we need your help! By contributing to our year-end goal of $85,000, you’ll enable us to extend these essential services to more families across our city. And now, thanks to a generous donor, your gift will go even further! The first $25,000 raised will be matched 100%, doubling the impact of every dollar you give! Give today at riversideproject.org/give — Your generosity ensures that parents like the Scotts can breathe easier, knowing they have a network of trained, caring people ready to help.

A heartfelt thank you to Angela Burgess and Broad Oaks Consulting, LLC for their incredible support of our TBRI training! Since July, Angela and her team have been working alongside us, helping to build sustainable fundraising strategies that strengthen our mission. We are so grateful for their partnership and investment in this work. Angela joined us at our most recent training, generously sponsoring the meals for everyone in attendance. She took time to share with the professionals and nonprofits in the room about the impactful work Broad Oaks Consulting does—empowering organizations to build resilient business models and maximize their impact. Be sure to check them out at broadoaksconsulting.com -- And if you or someone you know would like to sponsor an upcoming TBRI training, send us a message—we’d love to connect with you!

Each quarter, it is such an honor to meet with Residential Treatment Center (RTC) and Group Residential Operation (GRO) leaders who want to see sustainable, long-term, positive outcomes for the children they serve. We had a great meeting earlier this week! This collaborative community equips staff with training opportunities and connections to local resources, explores evidence-based frameworks together, and works toward sustainable solutions in partnership with key stakeholders. We're all better when we work together! Want to join this community? Learn how: https://lnkd.in/g6295xrf

We are honored to announce that on December 7, The Playdate Project is hosting an event in Houston to benefit The Riverside Project—specifically The Response Network, through which we provide training for community responders as well as tangible items/services that help families stabilize. This annual event was started by Laura Izumikawa in 2017 with the intention of creating the best playdate ever: "a playdate with a purpose." 100% of ticket sales go towards supporting non-profit programs that help children in crisis who are placed in foster care. We'd love to see you there—the event will have holiday-themed arts & crafts, safe play areas for kids of all ages, delicious snacks, goodie bags, and more! Get tickets: https://lnkd.in/gr8zuU9d

Our latest episode of The Riverside Project Podcast was such a good one! ?? It is through safe, consistent relationships that we can help children overcome painful trauma and learn new coping skills. We can do this by recognizing the need behind their behavior and consistently meeting that need. In our most recent episode, two of our staff members, Kathleen and Caitlin, share what they do behind the scenes here, what they have learned during their time as social workers, the inner workings of The Response Network, how to help both children and adults find healing from trauma, and more. Watch or listen to Episode 31: https://lnkd.in/gaU-VrJp

It's time for a partner highlight! ?? Meet Embrace Foster Care & Jessica Dean! Embrace Foster Care is a Bay Area Christian Church ministry that helps provide clothes, diapers, car seats, and more to foster families and families in need. This ministry supports the Response Network by providing vital items for children and families to help alleviate hardships and strengthen families. If you want to get involved or donate much-needed items, check out the Embrace Foster Care Facebook group! We're so grateful for Embrace!

Podcast recording days are some of our favorites! It's an honor to hear the stories from the foster care community and those working to help families heal and children thrive here in Houston. We hope each of the conversations on The Riverside Project Prodcast give you a greater understanding of the issues facing our community and inspire you to find your place along the River. You can watch or listen here: https://lnkd.in/dRZzgbB6

Whether you’re a family member caring for a child in foster care or just someone who is new to the concept of kinship care, learning the ins and outs of this form of foster care can empower you to better support those in need:

Are you or someone you know in the beginning stages of becoming a foster parent? There's a lot to consider before deciding to take this step, and we're here to help as you consider this opportunity. When selecting a foster care agency, it's important to take the time to evaluate which one will best align with your family’s values, needs, and expectations, ensuring you receive the support you need throughout your fostering journey. Choosing the right agency is a crucial step, as the relationship you build with them can greatly impact your experience as a foster parent. To support you in this process, we've compiled a list of key questions to ask. While not all of these questions need to be answered, and not every agency will offer every service mentioned, this list is designed to serve as a helpful starting point for your conversations. Find the full list here:

On any given day, thousands of Houston’s children are in foster care. Many more are at risk of entering foster care due to abuse, neglect, and/or family instability. On behalf of these children and their families, The Riverside Project brings together organizations and individuals, working AS ONE to see children heal and families thrive. We’ve learned that it’s only when we all come together that we can begin to make a lasting difference around our city. Earlier this year, we released our Emmy-nominated documentary series: As One. Through this film, we brought together people representing agencies, attorneys, families, churches, and community partners to tell some amazing stories that have happened when we work together. These four stories are SO encouraging and each are powerful illustrations of how collaboration leads to change! Take a moment to watch: https://lnkd.in/g6pmRHbe