Hannah I.’s Post

Living in foster care, I’ve come to understand that my journey with attachment hasn’t been straightforward. The constant shuffle between homes, different carers, each move compounding a feeling of instability, has made it confusing for me when to trust others. 💔 From a very young age, I learned to guard myself. Every time I started to feel comfortable or began to bond with a caregiver, I’d find myself packing up to move again. These repeated separations taught me to keep my emotional distance, to avoid the pain of yet another goodbye. It's like building walls around my heart, brick by brick, to protect myself from getting hurt. As a result, forming lasting, meaningful relationships has been a challenge. I often find myself questioning the intentions of others, wondering if they too will leave. This fear of abandonment follows me, casting a shadow over friendships and relationships. I struggle with the push and pull, wanting closeness but fearing it at the same time. I've also found myself becoming overly attached to certain staff members, feeling uneasy when their shifts end and they have to leave. It's tough because I start to prefer their presence over other carers, clinging to the comfort and familiarity they bring into my uncertain world. It’s important to understand these challenges YP face, it’s not just them being “clingy” 😒 My aim with sharing my personal journey is for people that work in the sector to understand a bit more how these Young people feel. Does this resonate with you? Comment below!! 👇 -#fostercarejourney #carejourney #careleavers #careleaver #yp #youngpeople #resi #residentialchildcare #childrenservices #childrenstrauma #trauma #attachment #attachmentissues

Foster carers play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable children, yet often feel unseen and unheard in the system. As a foster carer myself, I witness firsthand the challenges faced by both the children in my care and the services meant to support them. It's a reality where compassion fatigue is real, and burnout is common. Recently, I've been caring for a young person in a mental health crisis, navigating through a system that sometimes feels more focused on procedures than genuine care. It's disheartening to see dedicated professionals overwhelmed and struggling to keep up with the demands of the job. The strain is evident across the board – from health care workers on their knees to social workers shedding tears of exhaustion in my kitchen. The current situation is alarming - a policeman shared receiving seven emergency calls related to mental health crises in a single day, it was only 3-pm he was dealing with one of my other foster children who has been excluded from school. It's a stark reminder of the pressing need for better support and resources for all involved. There is no sugar coating it 'WE ARE IN TROUBLE' and it's time to drop the politics forced onto childrens lives and build a sustainable and compassionate system for foster carers and the children they care for. (Illustration sent to me by one of my foster children whilst waiting to see someone from CAMHS) #FosterCare #SupportingChildren #MentalHealthAwareness

I have a lot of new connections on LinkedIn so I thought I would share a bit about myself! 👉 I’m a passionate advocate for foster care and care leavers, and actively involved with FosterWiki. It’s been incredibly fulfilling supporting individuals on their journey and working towards positive change. 👇 Navigating the journey of taking young children through foster care and into shared lives has been both challenging and rewarding for me. Each child became an integral part of my family, and by providing them with a loving and stable home, they have all thrived. Never being able to return home, over years we’ve become their family and primary support, prioritising each of their unique needs. Family is everything to them and they claimed us! What I find the most frustrating is to encounter a constant lack of advocacy and aspiration from social workers, because they just keep changing, as many other professionals involved. So often, it feels like I'm the only one fighting for them. Now, as men, who also happen to have autism, I worry about their future care, especially as I grow older… That's why it's imperative for there to be systemic change—a system that doesn't stop caring at 18. Transitioning from foster care into adulthood is a critical juncture, particularly for men with autism. Support shouldn't abruptly vanish once they reach a certain age. We need policies and structures in place that provide ongoing support, guidance, and resources well beyond the age of 18. 👉Ensuring they have the resources they need throughout their lives is a responsibility I take to heart. 👉It's crucial to plan for their future and advocate for systems that prioritise their well-being. 👉Every young person deserves a safety net as they navigate the complexities of adulthood, especially those who have experienced the foster care system. It's time to advocate for a system that genuinely supports these individuals throughout their entire lives, should they need and desire it. 🤔 Let's work towards creating a compassionate and responsive framework that respects their autonomy and provides lifelong care and support. #Advocacy #FosterCare #CareLeavers #FosterWiki

⚠️ It is imperative that we address this matter with urgency. Placing such messaging prominently on the homepage of a fostering agency alongside the simplistic notion of requiring only a spare room perpetuates a systemic failure within our care system. Continued recruitment based solely on these criteria perpetuates the inadequacies within our system, resulting in detrimental outcomes for children in care and care leavers, who disproportionately fill homelessness, prison, and mental health settings. When offering a substantial financial incentive of £52,000 tax-free annually, individuals must be held to the same standards as any other profession within children's services. Accredited national qualifications and a thorough understanding of the responsibilities involved and a grounding in trauma informed care are essential prerequisites. In any other facet of children's social care, entry requires accredited qualifications and a comprehensive understanding of the role. It is time to dispel the notion that foster care equates to merely providing a home, fun filled days out, nice dinners and the school run. Modern foster carer encompasses and demands a nuanced set of responsibilities and demands a level of professionalism commensurate with its importance. FosterWiki are collaborating with NFCQ National Foster Carers Qualifications on a Foster Care Reform Agenda. It's time for change and time for our children to look forward to brighter futures. #ReformAgenda #FosterCare #solutions #RaisingStandards #ChildrenInCare #CEP Carolyn Moody MBE Niki Kalisperas Justin Rogers Dr Mine Conkbayir Louise Allen Matt Smith Rachel W Kimberley Kailla Saffron Hill Dr Kevin Gallagher

There shouldn’t be competition in this field, there should be a collaborative effort to transform the system to allow children to flourish whilst they go through a huge stage in their life full of uncertainty. If you're working in the care sector, empathy is key. It's concerning to see how much of this trait is lacking in the field. Foster carers, you should never see looking after children as a job, I went to homes where they treated it like that. If you can’t give a love like a parent, I feel it’s not right for you. Looked after children are not cases, they are children. If you don't see them that way, this field may not be for you. Let's focus on the empathetic and loving professionals who go above and beyond. There shouldn't be competition between agencies or residentials with who can get the better Ofsted scores. If something is working well, it should be shared. Our focus should always be on the children. That's why I'm here on LinkedIn, connecting with those who truly care. Together, we can bring about positive change. I have met incredible loving social workers, residential workers and foster carers, its raising the standards for those who just see it as a job and become desensitised #ChildFocusedCare #EmpathyInCare #PositiveChange

I am a foster carer, not a foster parent, and here’s why! As foster carers, our role is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children who need temporary care and support. We work according to a care plan and collaborate with families, recognising that children already have family connections. They also attend 'Looked After Care Reviews' as part of their support network. Reunification is the goal for those who can return home. While we may not have a biological connection to them, we provide stability, safety, warmth, and guidance during challenging times in their lives. We identify their strengths and support their family time and education. 👉A child often comes with trauma, loss, behavioural, and health issues. 👉Additionally, we have professional responsibilities and adhere to policies and procedures that differ from typical parental duties. 👉Most importantly, as foster carers, we never have parental responsibility. Decisions are made by a social worker who conducts regular visits. We undergo extensive training, receive supervision from our support social worker, participate in support groups, write monthly reports, and conduct an end of year review. We are self-employed for tax purposes only, as we are compensated for our care We are here to listen and support during tough times, advocating for the child to ensure their needs are met. We understand that fulfilling a child's potential requires more than meeting basic needs - it demands emotional support, guidance, and belief in their abilities. A foster carer feels immense joy and fulfillment when they see a child safe, happy, and achieving milestones, knowing they've made a positive difference in the child's life 👉Foster care is portrayed mostly as parenting—does this align with your understanding of parenting? 👉Shouldn’t we prioritise honesty in recruitment? 👉Transparency and honesty are crucial in describing the foster carer role to ensure clarity in recruitment processes #SupportingChildren #TraumaInCare #FosterCareChallenges #AdvocatingForChildren #FosterCareTraining #CarePlanCollaboration #ChildWellbeing #FosterCare

Adults in Training is here to serve young adults that are aging out of the foster care system in the city of Houston. In Texas, 1 in 4 will be homeless within 4 years of aging out of foster care. Less than 3% will graduate from college. Housing insecurity, incarceration, substance abuse, lack of stable employment, unplanned pregnancy are among the outcomes for up to 70% of young adults who age out. As for the other 30%? The research shows that at least one caring adult outside the system was the difference. Adults in Training will provide that difference. If you are interested in being part of and volunteering with A Lighted Path, click here: https://lnkd.in/g22Q-ZGz

As an adult adoptee who works with foster care survivors and adoptees in college, I know firsthand how important it is to have access to stories, perspectives, and research that reflects and affirms our unique lived experiences. All too often, literature that focuses on foster youth and adoptees is created by foster/adoptive parents or child welfare professionals who lack lived experience, resulting in propaganda-fueled narratives that push harmful misinformation and fail to be trauma-informed or child-centered. As soon as I started my position as the Fostering Success program advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, I knew I wanted to build a lending library so that my students could experience the transformative power of reading books written by people who have actually been in their shoes. Thanks to the support of my wonderful team and supervisor, I have been able to start this exciting project. The Fostering Success Library contains memoirs, fictional novels, and works of nonfiction, covering a wide range of topics such as foster care, transracial and international adoption, complex trauma, critical analysis of the child welfare/family policing system, and more. Almost every book is written by a person with direct lived experience, and the ones that are not are written by researchers who have taken a fully trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, child-centered, and/or abolitionist approach to their work.   Thank you to the incredible authors featured in this collection, such as Angela Tucker, Shannon Gibney, Karlos Dillard, Roxanna Asgarian, Dorothy Roberts, Alan Dettlaff, Susan Kiyo Ito, Gretchen Sisson, Rebecca Carroll, and Nicole Chung (among so many others!) for your beautiful work. Reading your stories and scholarship has completely changed my life, and I hope that I can give my students the same experience by putting your books in their hands.   Lastly, if anyone has additional book recommendations, please let me know! I hope to continue building this collection for many years to come. #fostercare #fosteryouth #survivors #adoptee #adoption #childwelfare #socialwork #abolition #highereducation #antiracism #traumainformed #livedexperience #childhoodtrauma #mentalhealth #adversechildhoodexperiences #complextrauma #readingisfundamental #books

In crisis there is opportunity 🙌 Let's focus on the incredible possibilities from our 10 point Manifesto for reform 👉 Children's Well-being, Transitions, and Outcomes: Key Actions: - Embed a National Foster Carers Qualifications and Education Pathway: This ensures that every child in care is placed with a skilled, knowledgeable, and trauma-informed foster carer, who is adept in both professional responsibilities and nurturing roles. - Protection and Support for Foster Carers: Enhance the support and protection for foster carers in their professional status and daily practices. This will empower them to deliver exceptional care. - Collaboration with Birth Families: Equip foster carers with the education, support, and protections needed to work effectively with birth families, particularly when reunification is a potential outcome. - Training for the Professional Team: Educate all professionals involved with the child, including foster carers, on the criticality of maintaining continued attachments. Implement research-based training on modern transition processes that prioritise children's attachments and discard outdated practices. - Independent Oversight Mechanisms: Introduce external, independent oversight mechanisms to ensure that policies are implemented correctly and consistently. - Addressing Turnover and Accountability: Tackle the high turnover rate of children's social workers and establish robust accountability measures for children's care plans, ensuring they are current, adhered to, and effective. ✋ Effective reform does not necessarily require more investment but smarter allocation of resources. Read the Manifesto: https://lnkd.in/eCSYw6kh #fostercare #wecandoit #ifnotnowwhen

🌟 Foster Care Awareness Month is here! 🌟 🎥 Join us as we debunk myths about foster care in our new video series! To kick us off, Chosen Board Advisor, Erika will tackle the misconception that gratefulness is guaranteed in foster care. While we hope for gratitude from our children, the reality is often different. Learn why expressing appreciation may be a challenge for a child affected by foster care and how your kindness plays a crucial role in their healing journey. Stay tuned for more insights and follow us for updates! 📌 #Chosen #ChosenCare #Foster #Kinship #Adoptive #FamilyHealing #FosterCare #MythBusters #ChosenCare