Amara’s Post

Highlighting the silent struggles of foster care – a journey filled with challenges and uncertainties. Together, we can make a difference. Let's rally for community support, offering hope and stability to those navigating the path of foster care. #FosterCareStruggles #CommunitySupport #MakingADifference #FosterHope https://lnkd.in/gVC9zWA

In the United States, nearly 370,000 children are in foster care without a permanent home. While foster care agencies aim to provide temporary housing and care for children and adolescents until they can be reunited with their families, cared for by relatives, or adopted, more than 18,500 youth age out of the foster care system annually at age 18 (or 21 in some states). As an child advocate and case supervisor for Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, I have noticed gaps in support systems that need to be addressed. In a new article I coauthored with Kristen Klurfield for the Bipartisan Policy Center's housing vertical, we outline some of the unique challenges foster youth face that can lead to housing instability and homelessness. We also describe federal programs and recent policy initiatives aimed at providing more stable housing for youths aging out of foster care. More in our article: https://lnkd.in/gQS97YMe

Although the state has reduced the number of children and youth in Arizona's foster care system, much more work needs to be done to help them be successful in life. Read what Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation's President and CEO, Luis De La Cruz, recently wrote in the Phoenix Business Journal: https://lnkd.in/gCWcP3YW #fostercareawarenessmonth #mayisfostercareawarenessmonth #fostercare #tranformationalimpact #changethestory #transformalife #40yearsofchangingthestory #affcf40thanniversary #childhoodactivities #keystosuccess #postsecondaryprograms #AFFCF #azffcf #youwinkidswin

In the early stages of my peer advocacy career, I often faced skepticism about my connection to the child welfare system. This doubt, typically from individuals without direct experience, highlights the misconception that a foster care story must fit certain extreme narratives while excluding kinship care. It's crucial to recognize that not all children in care endure severe hardships. Their experiences vary, and the absence of extreme trauma doesn't diminish the challenges they face, including separation, loss of love, connection, and identity. When I questioned the skeptics, these same people struggled to answer fundamental questions : “ Since I have no connection to the child welfare system, according to you, can you please ‘teach’ me the following…” 1. What's the term for being removed from biological parents and placed with a family unrelated by genetics? (Family friend) 2. How can I access my unaltered birth certificate? 3. Why do I connect with others grieving familial relationships they've never known? 4. What is the experience of being adopted like? 5. What particular state system handles these matters ? ————— While I personally experienced positive impacts from the child welfare system, it doesn't negate the harm done or the need for better support for biological and adoptive families. The lack of encouragement for contact with close family brings about much concern on how effective these systems are in which we live, grow, & support that perpetuate harm daily! - What role do we play? Are we too dishing out false narratives & dismissing other’s lived experiences? Or are we fact checking the validity of their stories because they’re “unimaginable “? ————- Kinship care does not always mean a better life. We should reconsider the credit we give to systems, as the long-term effects of separation demand a more critical and compassionate approach when engaging with others' unique stories. —————— in layman’s terms: “ The family police agency decides to remove a child from the home. To make the process easier, for the agency, not the family, they essentially blackmail the parent: Give us the child and let us place him “informally” with a relative -- without involving the court, without having to deal with a family defense attorney and without even the minimal due process rights you normally have -- or we’ll go to court and throw your child into the home of a stranger, or worse, a group home or institution. “ #FamiliesOverFacilities #AdoptionMonthAwareness

A strong support system EARLY contributes to long term success!

With foster care awareness coming to an end, the reflection I offer is clear-- The "numbers" crisis might be subsiding but the "outcomes" crisis is not. Too many kids will still face uncertain futures and outcomes simply because of their experience in foster care. We need to change that. Thanks to the Phoenix Business Journal for amplifying the need to focus on changing the story of foster care, not just the numbers. You can read the full opinion here: https://lnkd.in/gxbq-pdF

As we wrap up #NationalFosterCareMonth, we take a quick look at some key numbers related to children and youth in foster care - including the most critical number of all. https://ow.ly/ZJNS50S4lxF #NFCM #FosterCare

In the world of foster care, misconceptions can often cloud the reality of the experience. A common question many prospective foster carers have is whether children in care can arrive at their door without any notice. Let's debunk this myth and explore the actual process of welcoming a child into your home.

With a focus on individual potential, community, and holistic support, these changemakers are reshaping the foster care experience for children and young adults:

https://lnkd.in/eYs6aSXa ‘Now that fostering is in crisis we can no longer ignore the problem, it’s damaging retention, it’s damaging recruitment and worse still it’s damaging children and those who care for them’ says Sarah Anderson Founder, FosterWiki https://lnkd.in/e5RKk36g 👇 Based on the State of the Nation’s Foster Care 2021 survey, which provides the most comprehensive insight into fostering in the UK. ‘The Fostering Network puts forward a series of recommendations for improving the allegations investigation process, but our key call to governments across the UK is to conduct a ‘deep dive’ into allegation investigations in foster care’ … ‘Improving the allegations process in foster care is an urgent issue that needs to be tackled across the sector in order to reduce the damaging impact they have on children and foster carers.’ says Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network… #reform #allegations