Andi Lawrence-Harrison’s Post

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and being in foster care can be a traumatic experience for any child. You don’t have to be a foster parent, a CASA, or a volunteer to make a difference. Take a moment to find out how many kids are in care in your area and consider reaching out to a foster family to say thanks. Even just telling a friend or co-worker that you know how rough the situation can be for any child can make a difference. Let’s all be more aware and show our support for these children in need. #FosterCareAwarenessMonth #SupportFosterFamilies

Today is the last day of National Foster Care Awareness Month! This month is dedicated to recognizing the children who are living in foster care, the foster parents who care for them, and the staff who facilitate foster/adoption services. However, we hope that you are supportive of those involved in foster care year-round! Interested in getting involved as a foster parent? Read stories from our foster families and FAQs about foster care at https://lnkd.in/ed4PMDdF #FosterFriday #FosterCare #FosterCareAwarenessMonth

📹 Do Foster Parents Get a Say? 🤔 Curious about the foster care process? Check out our latest video where we answer the important question: "Do I get a say in what children are placed in my home?" Whether you're considering becoming a foster parent or want to learn more, this video is a must-watch! 💙 Your voice matters in the journey of fostering. Let Mission WV help you get started today! Call us at 1-866-CALL-MWV or visit www.missionwv.org.

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

May is #FosterCareAwarenessMonth Education is key: "In 2016, there were over 430,000 youth in the U.S. foster care system. The researchers found that the population of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities in foster care had grown substantially to almost 40,000 – or nearly 9% – and the rates of autism and intellectual disability among youth in foster care were two to five times greater than the rates found in the general U.S. population." #fostercare #disabled #autism #education

How does the foster care system impact youth and families? How can faith communities engage and support those involved in foster care? Join us next Thursday, September 26, for "In Perspective: Engaging the World through Foster Care." We'll hear from experienced leaders and caregivers about the challenges and opportunities in foster care and learn how the Church can embody Christ’s love in supporting foster children and their families. Register at the link in the comments. #densem #seminary #fostercare #panel #fostercaresupport #faithandfostercare

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

📢 You've got questions about foster care! The seasoned foster parents of the Joy Meadows community have united to create the ultimate guide for new foster families! We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions, and we're developing detailed articles and engaging videos to address each topic. This will be an all-encompassing resource for new foster families across Kansas City! 🏘️❤️ But we need YOUR help! 🙌 🧐 Considering foster care: What are you curious about? 🤔 Already fostering: What were the big questions you had when you first started? What questions do you still have? Please share your thoughts in the comments below! Your input is invaluable and will help us support foster families better! 💬👇

"As the saying goes, taking in a foster child may not change the world, but it will change the world for that child. By approaching foster care with the right mindset, you can be a blessing to these children while navigating any challenges with compassion and understanding." To find out more about the realities of adoption through foster care, please check out our recent blog post https://lnkd.in/dHcHGb5n.

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