The Buckeye Ranch’s Post

With #FosterCareMonth2024 officially in the books, it's the perfect opportunity to explore the Extension of Foster Care program! This initiative supports foster youth as they transition into adulthood, offering them the resources and guidance they need for a successful future. If you're a foster parent interested in learning more about how this program can benefit the young people in your care, click the link below for detailed information and resources. https://loom.ly/JmZOvBE

WASHINGTON: Cody was a toddler when he was adopted. As a teenager, he re-entered foster care upon his adoptive parents’ untimely passing. He was in between foster care placements when he expressed his heartfelt wish to know his birth parents’ names. Using Connect Our Kids, the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Specialized Adoption Recruiter for Cody not only eventually uncovered his birth parents’ names but also located Cody’s large biological family, including a half-sibling who only lives 30 minutes away! Cody is overwhelmed with emotion over this life-changing discovery. 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/g5s9Nk9z Thousands of children and youth are waiting for a forever home. Help connect them to safety and belonging: https://lnkd.in/e_nVzqds. #ConnectOurKids #FosterCare #TraumaRecovery #Mindfulness #Homelessness #Technology #MentalHealth #Trauma #TraumaHealing #ConnectOurKidsTechnology #ChooseConnection #Connections #Belonging #Unity  #FormerFosterYouth #AdoptionSupport #FamilySupport #Washington #BiologicalFamily #LifeChanging

More than 30 percent of youth and families in our program are – or have been – involved in foster care. Our Friends work hard to make sure that youth in foster care – or youth at-risk of care - and their caregivers have their needs met. Friends average five contacts each month with caregivers and facilitate connection to concrete resources in times of need. 92% of caregivers in our program report that Friends connected them to resources that stabilized their families. #PutChildrenFirst #FosterOurFuture

Without support, many young people experience adversity in the highly critical transition to adulthood. We are committed to ensuring that every young adult aging out of foster care has the tools they need to successfully enter this new phase of life. Read how Brayden regains his voice and finds support systems through our independent living program, LifeSet. https://lnkd.in/e3SnmSGJ

It’s #NationalAdoptionMonth. Did you know there are over 25,000 teens in foster care and in need of Forever Families nationwide? In fact, teens make up nearly a quarter of children waiting to be adopted. The teenage years mark a pivotal time for all youth, but they’re especially defining for foster teens waiting to be adopted. During their transition to permanency, extra support is necessary to help them adjust and express themselves. They may struggle with questions such as, “Who am I?”, “How am I different from others?” or “Which values will I take as my own?” The journey of self-discovery and finding a loving family is filled with ups and downs, and it can’t be done alone. If you’ve thought about welcoming a teen into your family and being that anchor of support, we invite you to visit our adoption page and learn more. Visit: www.sccfl.org/adopt Call: (941) 724-1101

📰ARTICLE: When foster care ends, 18-year-olds still need support Washington Post - February 08, 2024 The "financial umbilical cord" between American parents and children is getting longer. Fifty-seven percent of people ages 18 to 24 live with a parent - as do 21 percent of 25-to-29-year-olds. And 31 percent of young adults rely "a great deal" or "a fair amount" on their parents for emotional support. For many American kids, the gradual glide path to adulthood comes with an ample parental safety net. But there's one group of young people who enter adulthood much more abruptly, and with much less support: the roughly 20,000 teenagers who, in bureaucratic euphemism, "graduate" from foster care each year. And while some states are trying to provide "extended" foster care, the most vulnerable young adults in the country deserve more - as close as possible to the kind of creativity and commitment biological and adoptive parents offer their own kids. https://lnkd.in/eGkZKhhH #TransitionAge #Youth #YoungAdults #FRFL #Support #HopesandDreams #FamilyRoots www.familyrootsforlife.org

This article captures the real life struggles for a lot of our young adults transitioning out of foster care into the real world and the importance of genuine collaborative efforts between programs and organizations to ensure success during the transition. A huge shoutout to the Great Expectations program and the team at Bright Point Community College. The power of our collaborative efforts changes lives and generations.

Did you know... Less than 6% of former foster youth obtain a college degree by the age of 26 compared to 24% of the general population. However, 70% of teens who left the foster care system reported they wanted to attend college. Konnected with Care is committed to providing foster youth the resources they need to advance their education. We empower connections to resources that transform lives. Join our movement and help us #Konnect Foster Youth to the resources they need to succeed. #FosterCareAwarenessMonth #FosterYouth #Konnected #KonnectedwithCare #FosterCareReform #EducationFirst

Thinking about becoming a foster parent? Let's debunk some common misconceptions about the process! 🚫Misconception: You need to own a home to foster. ❤️Reality: Renters can foster too! What's important is that youth are provided their own bedroom and a safe, nurturing environment. 🚫Misconception: Foster children are "problem" kids. ❤️Reality: Foster children come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. They're not "problem" kids but rather kids who need stability and support. 🚫Misconception: Fostering means saying goodbye. ❤️Reality: While most placements are temporary, the impact you make lasts a lifetime. Still have questions? Tap to learn more about becoming a foster parent! https://lnkd.in/gTT8_zEJ #BeTheDifference #MentalHealthTips #FamilyCareNetwork #SanLuisObispo #FamilySupportServices #FosterCareMonth #FosterCare #FosterParent

Thinking about becoming a foster parent? Let's debunk some common misconceptions about the process! 🚫Misconception: You need to own a home to foster. ❤️Reality: Renters can foster too! What's important is that youth are provided their own bedroom and a safe, nurturing environment. 🚫Misconception: Foster children are "problem" kids. ❤️Reality: Foster children come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. They're not "problem" kids but rather kids who need stability and support. 🚫Misconception: Fostering means saying goodbye. ❤️Reality: While most placements are temporary, the impact you make lasts a lifetime. Still have questions? Tap to learn more about becoming a foster parent! https://lnkd.in/gTT8_zEJ #BeTheDifference #MentalHealthTips #FamilyCareNetwork #SanLuisObispo #FamilySupportServices #FosterCareMonth #FosterCare #FosterParent