Right before summer break begins each year, I have the same conversation with fellow mothers.  We’re eager for the break – the slower pace, being more relaxed and having more time with our kids. And then, at the end of summer, we talk about how quickly it flew by – how busy it was – and how, in some ways, starting school again will feel lighter and easier than the summer felt.  It makes perfect sense. Having kids at home – without the consistent routines of the school year – adds complexity for parents.  Unstructured days aren’t always pleasant, and getting back into a schedule ..read more

Churches can begin and deepen their engagement in foster care ministry by focusing on discipleship, leveraging their existing ministries to care for vulnerable children and families, or starting a new church foster care ministry focused on a specific facet of child welfare. [Editor’s Note: This National Foster Care Month, we are looking at the state of foster care through three lenses – before, during and beyond – to assess what strategic actions make an impact in each unique area. This is the fourth article in that series. You can read the first, second and third articles here.] ——– When you ..read more

Your community can help former foster youth – particularly those aging out of foster care – with the support needed to help them transition to adulthood and protect them from experiences like homelessness and trafficking. [Editor’s Note: This National Foster Care Month, we are looking at the state of foster care through three lenses – before, during and beyond – to assess what strategic actions make an impact in each unique area. This is the third article in that series. You can read the first and the second articles here.] Foster care itself is only the middle of the story for children and fa ..read more

Community support for foster and kinship families, social workers and biological families during foster care has the dual benefit of improving outcomes for children and reducing the shortage of foster families. [Editor’s Note: This National Foster Care Month, we are looking at the state of foster care through three lenses – before, during and beyond – to assess what strategic actions make an impact in each unique area. This is the second article in that series. Find the first article here.] If your community is like most across the US, there’s a gap between the number of foster families in you ..read more

While the foster care system plays a vital role in providing kids a safe place for a season, we can also prevent kids from entering foster care in the first place by addressing the causes of family separation, identifying potential red flags to keep families together, and providing intensive support for families on the brink of having their children removed. [Editor’s Note: As we kick off National Foster Care Month, we are looking at the state of foster care through three lenses – before, during and beyond – to assess what strategic actions make an impact in each unique area. This is the first ..read more

This is the third article in a three-part series on The Powerful Role of the Body in Mental Health.  For most of us, a burger and fries hold more easy appeal to our taste buds than a chef salad. Eating healthy doesn’t often come naturally. It’s all the harder because processed and fast food are everywhere and so easy! Foster and adoptive families frequently face additional challenges, whether it is a child newly entering their home with different eating habits, strong aversions to certain tastes and textures, or hoarding and overeating related to food anxiety.  We get it.  But r ..read more

This is the second article in a three-part series on The Powerful Role of the Body in Mental Health.  A rosy-cheeked child energetically playing outdoors – exploring, climbing, running – carries a vibrant look of health. It is a picture of strength and stamina, but also alertness, motivation and happiness.  It’s easy to recognize that there is something about being active – whether a child, teen, or adult – that so clearly bears profound and lingering good.  What we know intuitively is now confirmed by research. Regular physical activity is vital for healthy mental, relational a ..read more

This is the first article in a three-part series on The Powerful Role of the Body in Mental Health.  Here’s something crucial for foster and adoptive families to understand – how we routinely care for our bodies profoundly impacts mental health.  Sleep, exercise, nutrition and time outdoors all play critical roles in the well-being of every family member. But sleep especially plays an outsized role in mental health.  Children and adolescents struggling with mental and behavioral challenges often have trouble sleeping and poor sleep habits.  For foster and adoptive families ..read more

The Biden Administration has proposed new Federal regulations that would re-shape how states and counties must approach issues related to the sexuality and gender identity of children and youth in the foster system. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra described these and other regulatory changes as “game-changing,” and expressed, “This is going to change the complexion of how we view foster care treatment for our foster kids, but more importantly, how we look at the people who we rely on to care for foster kids.” The proposed rule is titled, “Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements fo ..read more

If you’ve ever been to summer camp, completed a ropes course, or participated in a corporate team-building exercise, there’s a fair chance you’ve done a trust fall. You know the drill. You stand on top of something with your arms across your chest. Several people – friends, colleagues or people you don’t know at all — lock arms on the ground below you. You may even be blindfolded. And then the moment comes and you slowly fall backward into a net of human arms. If you haven’t been a jerk to those folks all week, chances are the arms will hold your weight and everyone will cheer wildly. If you h ..read more