Three Ships’ Post

If your community is like most across the US, there’s a gap between the number of foster families in your county and the number of foster families you need to care for every child who needs a safe, temporary home. To address that shortage of foster families, communities often invest more resources in foster family recruitment – an understandable response. But becoming a foster family isn’t the right next step for most people. What if there are other strategies you can implement to help close the gap and reach more than enough foster and kinship families? By inviting churches and individuals to rally around foster families, kinship families, social workers and biological families, you’re both helping improve the lives of children and influencing retention rates and the length of time children spend in care. As a result, there’s less pressure on the foster care system, reducing the shortage of foster families your community faces. And when we recognize the crucial role of community support during foster care, we can meaningfully invite our whole communities to get involved in ways beyond becoming a foster family. Suddenly everyone can do something. Check out the full post on the CAFO blog to explore how these strategic actions can help your community reach more than enough foster and kinship families. https://lnkd.in/ePwKGtzB

May is National Foster Care Month. In her latest insight, partner Deborah Ausburn explains what people can do to help foster families. To learn more about what you can do to help, read her full insight below. https://lnkd.in/ej7TmjW3

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, an opportunity to advocate for the needs of children in care and empower them to reach their full potential. It's about ensuring they have access to essential services, educational opportunities, and the support they need to thrive. By investing in their well-being and development, we invest in the future of our communities. There are many ways to get involved and make a difference during Foster Care Awareness Month and beyond: •Support Foster Families: Offer assistance, encouragement, and resources to foster families in your community. •Advocate for Policy Changes: Advocate for policies that improve the foster care system and support children and families in need. •Volunteer: Volunteer your time with organizations that support children and youth in foster care, such as mentoring programs or advocacy groups. Let's honor the dedication of foster families and professionals who work tirelessly to make a positive difference in their lives. Together, we can build a brighter future for every child, ensuring they grow up in safe, loving, and supportive environments. #FosterCareAwarenessMonth #CelebrateFosterFamilies #EmpowerTheFuture

Did you know? The Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas holds 65,000 people. Multiply this by six and you get 390,000, which falls short of accommodating the 400,000 kids in foster care today. Nationwide, there are only half the amount of homes needed to house them. One of the reasons for the shortage is that 50% of new foster parents quit within the first year, with many stating lack of community support as a reason. That's where our Foster Friendly program comes in. We help increase foster parent retention by equipping businesses, churches and entire communities to support and encourage local foster families. As a business leader, you can make a huge difference in the lives of foster families and the children they serve through: A) Corporate sponsorships Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gpG2DDsC B) Offering discounts to foster families on our free Foster Friendly App Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gasfpedz Join the movement and let's make sure these local heroes receive the community support they deserve! #fosterfriendly #nfl #superbowl Statistics source: Lifesong for Orphans

Seeing stats like this can be disheartening, until you realize that it is absolutely possible to change this reality when everyone does their part. These are our kids, America's kids, and we can all take a step TODAY to flip the script for their future. Because it's our future, too. Help more kids find families through corporate sponsorships: https://lnkd.in/en7KrGj2 #superbowl #fostercareawareness

🌟May is Foster Care Awareness Month 🌟 This month, we honor and recognize the vital role that foster care plays in supporting children and youth who need safe, nurturing environments. It’s a time to appreciate the incredible dedication of foster parents, social workers, and countless supporters who make a real difference. 👉 Did You Know? Thousands of children enter the foster care system each year, each with their own unique story and needs. They deserve every opportunity to thrive, pursue their dreams, and build bright futures. As we observe Foster Care Awareness Month, let’s: 📖Learn: Educate ourselves and others about the challenges and needs within the foster care system. 🤝Support: Reach out to local foster care agencies to see how you can help, whether through volunteering, donations, or offering services. 🗣️Advocate: Use your voice to advocate for policies and practices that enhance the lives of foster children. Together, we can make a lasting impact. Let’s connect, share stories, and spread the word. Every little bit of support counts in helping these children feel loved, valued, and understood. ⏰ Stay tuned for new posts each MONDAY in MAY that feature videos with information on Foster Care & Foster Youth #FosterCare #FosterCareAwarenessMonth #SupportFosterKids #MakeADifference

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to open our hearts and minds to the experiences of over 400,000 foster children across the nation. These children, often moving from home to home, frequently carry more than just the physical burden of their belongings in nondescript and undignified trash bags—they carry the emotional and psychological weight of uncertainty, loss, and upheaval. Foster children are disproportionately affected by challenges such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. They may struggle academically and socially, often as a direct result of their unstable environments and the trauma they’ve endured. Each transition can feel like yet another layer of instability in their already tumultuous lives. This is why #MyBagMyStory was founded, a compassionate nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that no child has to pack their life into a trash bag. With every stylish, durable bag sold, another is donated to a foster child. These bags are not just practical; they are symbols of respect, care, and the belief that these children deserve better. We can all play a part in supporting these resilient young individuals. Here’s how you can help: - **Educate yourself and others** about the unique challenges faced by foster children. - **Support foster families** and organizations by volunteering your time or resources. - **Advocate** for better policies and support systems for foster children and their families. - **Contribute to organizations like My Bag My Story**, which provide both immediate needs and long-term support to foster children. This Foster Care Awareness Month, join us in making a tangible difference. Visit our website www.myBagmystory.com to purchase a bag for yourself or as a gift, and automatically donate a second bag to a child in need. Together, we can end the cycle of the trash bag and give foster children something they can call their own—a symbol of hope, dignity, and the knowledge that someone cares. #FosterCareAwarenessMonth #FosterCare #FosterKids

When I began my career in child welfare, specifically working with children in foster care. My naive and simplistic reason was that every child deserves a family. Then it became about empowering the family. And then how to change the monstrosity of the child welfare system. Then how to train and develop the foster care workforce. My reason doesn’t change but how I have done it has changed. But the one thing I have learned is that I can’t do it alone. I can’t do it with the team around me. It takes the entire community. Not just social workers. If you are a professor, you can do more research for children and families. If you a doctor, you can provide healing. If you a pastor, you can provide shepherding to the broken families. If you a business person you can see how your company can provide job opportunities for parents to have children returned home. If you are a teacher, you can find ways to teach the child that is unique to their learning style. I can go on and on. If you don’t know how you can help a child or a family that’s involved in foster care then drop a comment and I can help connect that for you! #fostercareawarenessmonth

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month! This month, we want to recognize the children who are living in foster care, the foster parents who care for them, and the staff who facilitate foster care and adoption services. Want to learn about how Wesley supports children and families within foster care? Read FAQs about foster care at Wesley and stories from our foster families at https://lnkd.in/esGifn5e #FosterFriday #FosterCare #FosterCareAwarenessMonth

It’s National Foster Care Month, a topic I hold close to my heart. Having worked as a frontline case worker and opening up my home as a foster parent, I've seen firsthand the system's failures in adequately protecting children. The ongoing discussions and efforts around supporting children in care are encouraging. It's crucial that we collectively strive to ensure their safety and well-being. As we tackle current challenges, I can't help but think about preventable removals. How many children and families could have been spared the trauma of abuse and separation from their loved ones? The most effective way to ease the strain on an overwhelmed system is by preventing neglect, which accounts for 85% of maltreatment cases today. Struggling parents need healthy relationships, access to employment, knowledge about relevant community resources, and help with the hardest job in the world: being a parent. And every one of us can help in some way. Better Together has opportunities for everyone to support families and reduce foster care removals. Send me a message to find out how.