Foster Love’s Post

Every year in California, more than 4,000 youth age out of foster care. The transition period from adolescence to adulthood is longer and more complex for today's young adults, and foster youth face unique challenges to making a successful transition into adulthood in employment, higher education, marriage, and parenthood. This #TopicAreaTuesday, we are highlighting evidence-based programs within our Youth Transitioning Into Adulthood Programs Topic Area. Discover services designed to increase the skills, knowledge, and supports of youth who age out of the child welfare system while in out-of-home care and, therefore, have to transition out of the foster care system and live on their own. ✨ View the Topic Area: https://lnkd.in/gufx3kmz #ChildWelfare #EvidenceBased #EvidenceBasedInterventions #FosterCare #AgingOut #TransitionalSupport #LifeSkills

The Administration passed a historic final rule for separate foster parent licensing standards for relatives. -- "Today, and in recognition of National Kinship Month, the Biden-Harris Administration is building on this progress and releasing three landmark regulations to strengthen services and supports for children and families in the child welfare system. Specifically, the regulations will: ** Support kinship caregivers – family members and loved ones who step forward to care for a child in foster care – by making it easier for them to access resources and financial assistance. ** Protect LGBTQI+ youth in foster care from abuse and mistreatment and ensure they have the services they need to thrive. ** Expand access to legal services for children and families at risk of entering or in the child welfare system. Taken together, this landmark package of new rules, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF), will advance equity in the child welfare system and have a profound impact on the safety and wellbeing of families across the country. Learn more about this landmark effort at: https://lnkd.in/gt5jHWvq #kinship #kinshipcare #foreverfamily LGBTQI+ #kinshipcaremonth

Friday Facts on Annie E. Casey Foundation's Family Ties https://lnkd.in/esSCaDCz Around 1/3 of children in foster care are living in a licensed or unlicensed kinship placement, which helps them stay connected to their families and communities. Although child welfare agencies place children in foster care with unlicensed kinship caregivers, they don’t provide the same supports or financial resources. Kinship caregivers with a foster home license, and the children in their care, have access to more services and supports than those who lack a license. Jurisdictions are making progress in streamlining licensing processes through new kin-specific licensing standards. Read our report on the disparities between licensed and unlicensed kinship caregivers here: https://lnkd.in/e43K57eZ

If you care deeply about children, especially those kids who experience family crises and eventually foster care, please check out this op-ed. There have been so many news headlines over the last 10 years that it's become tough to make sense of what's going well, what the problems are, and what the solution is. This explains it. https://lnkd.in/gNqyve5a #fostercare #childwelfare #ks

Here's my video message for National Foster Care Month: https://lnkd.in/epfrMG3A. I hope you'll act in at least one of the ways mentioned in the video. Here are a Few of the Highlights: ·        It's time to disrupt harmful child welfare practices. Who better to lead the way than those with lived experience? ·        I believe that CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is an integral part of meaningful child welfare improvements in Massachusetts. NO child or youth should be in the custody of the state without one person solely focused on their well-being. It’s common sense- when someone is paying closer attention, less bad things happen and children (and often their families for that matter) receive more attention and support. ·        CASA can and does contribute to systemic harm just like social workers, attorneys, judges, and other providers- even if it’s not intentional. Therefore, every single step of my office will be through an equity and justice lens. This has been a commitment of Massachusetts CASA since I arrived in June of 2022. Every training offered, every marketing campaign launched, and every speech given. I expect for every single person affiliated with our network to be radically compassionate, zealous in their advocacy- but with fairness and objectivity-, culturally humble, and justice seeking. ·        I’m inviting those who are passionate about all of the above to join me in some capacity. Donate at https://macasa.org/donate/ so I can expand my team with lived experts who will relentlessly pursue a reimagination and redesign of the child welfare system. Explore becoming a volunteer https://lnkd.in/e83QMBgJ. Or sign up for MA CASA’s distribution list at https://lnkd.in/dHB5RTun so we can keep the conversation going. 

We know children benefit from being enrolled in early care and education (ECE) programs. Children in foster care are at greater risk for challenges at school and outside of it--challenges that ECE can help prepare them to overcome. CEED partnered with our colleagues at the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) on a study of barriers to participation in ECE for children in foster care. Read more: https://lnkd.in/guRUjiRh #ece #fosterfamily #earlychildhoodeducation

Short-term: we need to better support our child welfare agencies and foster care providers - they're in crisis right now. Long-term: we need to increase prevention efforts and improve access to mental health and substance abuse treatment - since we know that substance abuse and unmanaged mental health disorders are primary factors in child abuse and neglect.

KANSAS: Early in 2021, four siblings entered foster care. Previously the children lived with their mother, who had been arrested for selling drugs; the children later disclosed physical abuse. The children initially avoided separation with a temporary placement with a maternal aunt. Because of limited resources and her own growing family, their aunt committed to caring for only the two older children. At the time of removal, the children’s mother revealed the names of the children’s four different fathers without further contact information. Using the Connect Our Kids technology platform, a child welfare advocate found homes for the two youngest children. The second youngest has moved in with her paternal grandmother. The youngest child has reunited with her biological father, who had been very involved in her life before her placement in foster care. All four children are now living with biological relatives with the support of extended family members. This story may have had a different outcome if not for the diligence of committed child welfare professionals conducting diligent searches and making positive connections. If you’re using our software, your feedback or Impact Story is important to us. If you’re a supporter, know that your contributions are changing lives across the country. To read the full story and how our tools helped, click on the link: https://lnkd.in/e2U3u3BS Thousands of children and youth are waiting for a forever home. Help connect them to safety and belonging: https://lnkd.in/e_nVzqds. 💙 #Kansas #ConnectOurKids #FosterCare #TraumaRecovery #Mindfulness #Homelessness #Technology #MentalHealth #Trauma #TraumaHealing #ConnectOurKidsTechnology #ChooseConnection #Connections #Belonging #Unity #FormerFosterYouth #AdoptionSupport #FamilySupport #Siblings #Reunification #DiligentSearches #ChildWelfare #ChildWelfareAdvocate #SocialWork #ForeverHome #PaternalGrandmother #BiologicalFather #PositiveConnections

Some American teens in foster care spend weeks in child welfare offices or hotels due to the shortage of skilled foster parents. Foster parents, driven by compassion, can make a difference, but we need to make them aware of the real challenges that teens face. By highlighting this need, we appeal to their innate desire to serve and provide a loving home. Let's empower potential parents to understand the pressing challenges faced by teens in the system. By reminding them consistently, especially during holidays or family gatherings, we can inspire action and make a profound impact. Together, let's spread awareness and create pathways for change. #FamilyRecruitment #FosterCare #FosterFamilyRecruitment

Exciting news yesterday! The U.S. Administration for Children and Families released three landmark regulations/proposed regulations: 1. Final Regulation - Support kinship caregivers – family members and loved ones who step forward to care for a child in foster care – by making it easier for them to access resources and financial assistance. 2. Proposed Regulation - Protect LGBTQI+ youth in foster care from abuse and mistreatment and ensure they have the services they need to thrive. 3. Proposed Regulation - Expand access to legal services for children and families at risk of entering or in the child welfare system. More to come in implementation and the rule-making process.