FaithBridge Foster Care的动态

Have you considered becoming a foster caregiver? Check out one of our latest blogs to learn more about embracing the goals of foster care! Make a difference, become a foster caregiver.

Do you have questions about Treatment Foster Care? We've got answers! In this Q&A, Renea Nash shares her journey to becoming the manager of the Treatment Foster Care program and how her team is supporting and training foster parents working with children who have experienced profound trauma: https://bit.ly/4c133kj. Here are some of the questions Renea addressed: ?? What qualifies a child to be in Treatment Foster Care vs. Traditional Foster Care? What kinds of behaviors can parents expect? ?? What is the Virtual TFC Speakers/Educational Series? What other new things do you hope to bring to treatment foster care parents? ?? What are the incentives available to those considering TFC?

Foster Care in Virginia: A Call to Action! Did you know that over 5,000 children are currently in foster care in Virginia? These young lives are filled with potential, and they need our support to thrive. ??Key Statistics: -5,500+ children are in the foster care system. -50% of these children are between the ages of 12 and 18. - Each year, around 600 kids age out of the system without finding a permanent home. Every child deserves a loving and stable environment. You can make a difference by becoming a foster parent, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness. Together, we can ensure that every child in Virginia has the chance to grow up in a nurturing home. ?? Learn more about how you can help: https://lnkd.in/eqyakCqc #FosterCare #TherapeuticFosterCare #HopeTree #Virginia #EveryChildMatters #SupportOurYouth #MakeADifference

Let's talk about a critical phase in the foster care system: the journey of aging out. ?? When foster youth reach adulthood, usually between 18 to 21 years, they 'age out' of the system. These young adults must navigate housing, education, employment, and health care, often without the support network many of us take for granted. Understanding this journey is key to creating effective programs and policies. Let's ensure that aging out of foster care is the beginning of a hopeful future, not a challenge to be faced alone.

Today is National Foster Care Day, a day close to my heart. Here are 5 facts about foster care. 1. Over 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States. 2. The average age of a child entering foster care is 8 years old, but there are infants and teenagers in the system as well. 3. Approximately 25% of children in foster care are eventually adopted by their foster families or other permanent guardians. The other 75% age out of the system. 4. 25% of children in foster care graduate high school within 4 years. Less than 4% go on to earn a college degree. 5. Transitioning out of foster care can be challenging, as many youth face obstacles such as homelessness, unemployment, and lack of access to education and healthcare services.

Let’s talk about our Love Box! ???? The Love Box Program was created to provide our local foster care community with consistent, customized, and holistic support. Our “Love Box” may LOOK like a traditional cardboard box, but this program is so much more than a box of stuff! It’s about relationships, connection, and support. Depending on the family’s needs, Love Box support could be a box filled with practical items like groceries, paper products, seasonal activities, special treats, etc. But Love Box support could also look like volunteers offering to babysit, tutoring or helping with homework, planning a child’s birthday celebration, or even chipping in for an unplanned need/event. You’ve heard us say that foster care is HARD, but we know that if we can wrap community support around foster families, we have a much better chance at: ?? Increasing the families’ overall sense of normalcy ?? Helping caregivers feel equipped to continue this hard but necessary work. ?? Establishing much-needed stability and relational permanency for children in foster care ?? Steering them away from negative outcomes and creating more opportunities for their health, happiness, and ability to thrive. If you’d like to learn more about how you can be this crucial support for a wonderful family, message us today! ????

In the U.S., children typically "age out" of the foster care system when they turn 18, though this can vary slightly by state. Some states have extended foster care programs, allowing young adults to remain in the system until age 21. Depending on their circumstances, and being enrolled in school, working, or receiving vocational training, these foster children had nowhere to go. This extension aims to provide additional support as they transition to adulthood, particularly in housing and education, crucial to gaining employment assistance. However, many youths still face challenges when they age out, such as housing insecurity and limited access to support systems. We understand this trend and it is a significant problem throughout the country. As of the most recent data (2022), there were approximately 391,000 children in foster care in the United States. The number of children in foster care can fluctuate year to year due to various factors, including family reunification, adoption, and new entries into care system.

When you’re trying to find your place along the River, you may feel a bit overwhelmed at first. Foster care is a complex system here in Houston (and in other communities as well) with a wide variety of significant needs, so it can be tricky to navigate if you’re new to it. To add to the confusion, there are many misconceptions about what getting involved in this work truly looks like. If you allow yourself to believe misleading myths about what it means to support those who are in the foster care community, you may end up feeling intimidated and unsure of where to start. That’s why the first step on the path to becoming a support pillar for those in need is reflecting on the beliefs you currently hold about the foster care community and challenging those that may be myths so that you can move forward from a place of true understanding. Here are 5 myths about foster care that should be let go as you begin your journey:

THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IN INDIANA IS IN CRISIS. There are not enough foster families to care for the growing number of children in state custody. It's to the point the Indiana Department of Child Services is placing children in homes in different counties – sometimes hours away from their hometown. These children need a safe, loving and stable environment with patient adults who will give them the dedication and support they need. Consider fostering children who are older! This is where the problem lies. Children who are 10 years old and older become lost in the system because most foster parents want to foster young children. This leaves a crisis for older children. My job as a youth and family specialist is spending time with these older children, finding purpose and instilling life skills. They need extra care due to the trauma they’ve endured in their young lives. I find it remarkable how resilient, smart and unique these kiddos are! Growing pains can be hard to handle sometimes, but teens don’t outgrow the need for a loving family. There are thousands of older children who still need to be fostered or adopted by loving families nationwide. Foster care can make a major positive impact on these older children! For example, teens who age out of foster care without a permanent support system are at increased risk of homelessness, young parenthood, low educational attainment, and other issues. Youth who age out of foster care are less likely to graduate high school and earn a college education too. As a result, they often face challenges in finding gainful employment. Only half of youth who were once in foster care finish high school, and less than 3% graduate college. These devastating outcomes are often a result of emotional issues, difficulty achieving passing grades, and mental health challenges. However, committed foster parenting can help mitigate their risk status. Is it hard to become a foster parent? NO. Prospective foster parents in Indiana must complete a licensing packet issued by the county, attend 10 hours of training, and pass criminal background checks and the home study process prior to placement. You can start here: https://lnkd.in/gkbKhbYU Do you get compensated? YES. Average National Youth Advocate Program Foster Parent hourly pay in Indiana is approximately $21.59, which is 10% above the national average. Be the change and consider fostering. It really takes a village and these kiddos are the future. You can be a part of that and make a difference! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.??

The foster care system has far too many cracks for vulnerable youth. The Mothershp aims to close the cracks in the system. With 78.3 Billion dollars advocated from the United States government youth are still slipping through these cracks. It starts with a care forward approach, and our system does just that, we offer a solution for the child, the agency and the government, refining and tailoring our solution so everyone involved in our system reaps the benefits. Take the time to read our article to see just how the Mothershp is pushing for a foster care reform and taking a careful approach to helping foster parents navigate through foster parenthood, while also providing the agencies insights into the care of each child as well, allowing for improved placements and more positive outcomes. #timeforchange #systemrunning #nochildleftbehind. https://wix.to/KDpL4dW