Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services’ Post

DID YOU KNOW? Over 140,000 children are in out-of-home care in Pennsylvania, including foster care and kinship care. That's why we need YOUR help! If you are considering becoming a foster or kinship care parent to make a difference in children's lives, Wesley Family Services offers programs to support this journey. Learn more about foster and kinship care at https://lnkd.in/esGifn5e

We celebrate parents! Does that surprise you? Reunification is the most common, and, most desired permanency goal for children in foster care. Keeping families together is better for the children, whenever safely possible. It is the first and best option. Learn more about our focus on families at https://lnkd.in/euQDdEau

With Christmas just around the corner most children will be getting excited for Father Christmas to come and visit but it isn’t always as straightforward as that for children in care Preparing for Christmas with a new foster child can bring its own challenges Here's some advice from our team to help you have the best Christmas for you and your foster children 👉 https://lnkd.in/dbijjcEV #Fostering #ChristmasAdvice #FosteringAdvice

We're in Sydney today, as part of the National Foster & Kinship Care Collective (NFKCC), to discuss issues impacting family-based carers at a Federal level. The NFKCC is a voluntary cooperative of state and territory foster and kinship care associations, including Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA for South Australia, and our interstate counterparts from Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory. There are critical issues that impact all foster and kinship carers, regardless of state and territory borders. The collective is meeting today to strategically plan our advocacy moving forward at a Federal level and ensure it aligns with the issues that matter most to our members. Pictured are Fiona Endacott, CEO Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA; Amanda Thompson, CEO Foster & Kinship Care NT; Kim Blackhouse, CEO Foster & Kinship Association Tasmania; Bryan Smith, CEO Queensland Foster & Kinship Care; and Samantha Hauge, CEO Foster Care Association Victoria. Find out more about the NFKCC and its seven key action areas here: https://lnkd.in/gUSt-P4c

I keep taking about upstream community solutions, meanwhile, Ken & Darlene Tipton are out there making it happen. They founded Foster Folks after realizing that they had excess time and energy to spend on grandkids - but theirs lived too far away. "We searched for a way to become foster Grandparents, but there was none. We created FosterFolks.com to connect with families that have no Grandparents." Honestly - to spend your time thinking about how you can give your excess away rather than gather more? This is the best of humanity right here. If you want to be a foster grandparent or aunt or uncle, check out their website: www.fosterfolks.com (PS Share the word- from their website: "We have put all of our funds into the development of FosterFolks.com and have little left to market the website. Please pass on our website and Facebook link to your email and social media contacts.") #mentalhealth #moreofthis #absolutelyyes

Today the Government has published the first ever National Kinship Care Strategy for England. 💛 This is a landmark moment for #KinshipCarers who are raising the child of a family member or friend. It provides significant recognition of the monumental role kinship carers play in transforming the experiences of hundreds of thousands of children. ✨ Key commitments from the National Kinship Care Strategy include: 🟢 Trialling financial allowances for kinship carers in eight local authorities. 🟣 Guidance for employers to support employees who are kinship carers. 🔵 Initial steps to improve support for children in kinship care - including expanding the remit of the Virtual School Head and promoting the renamed Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. These commitments bring us a step closer to achieving our #ValueOurLove campaign calls to equalise support between kinship families and foster and adoptive families but the commitments and investments made still fall short of delivering the urgent transformation that all kinship families need now. Despite its limitations, the Strategy is an enormous achievement and testament to every kinship carer who has fought for change. 💪 Read more about how the National Kinship Care Strategy will affect kinship families: https://loom.ly/3yu5s5c

WHY WESLEY? Wondering what makes Wesley's foster care services stand out? Listen to Kimberly and why she chose Wesley for support in being a foster parent! Learn more about how Wesley supports children and families within foster and kinship care at: https://brnw.ch/21wKyjY #FosterFriday #FosterCare

🌟 A Heartwarming Tale of Support! Meet J, a selfless guardian angel who always puts her grandchildren first. Despite her unwavering care, she hesitated to ask for help, even when it came to something as fundamental as a bed. Enter Kinship Connections, a program that supports grandparents, other relatives, and even family friends who are caring for children. Most kinship caregivers are not foster parents and provide full-time care for children privately. J's Kinship caseworker recognized J's need and embarked on a mission of love and comfort. The caseworker, understanding that sleeping on an air mattress wasn't ideal, gently convinced J that she deserved a proper bed. Despite J's initial reluctance, the caseworker's persistence prevailed. The journey took a few months, but the outcome was worth every moment. The program's heartfelt efforts not only provided J with a cozy bed but also ensured she received new linens for added comfort. This heartwarming transformation is a testament to the power of compassion, persistence, and the profound impact one caring individual can have within the framework of Kinship Care. Let's celebrate J's newfound comfort, highlighting the significance of supporting kinship caregivers and recognizing their invaluable role in providing loving homes for children. 🛌💖 #TransformationTuesday #KinshipCare #ActsOfKindness #HeartwarmingStories #growingstrongercommunities

WHY WESLEY? Wondering what makes Wesley's foster care services stand out? Listen to Jamie and why she chose Wesley for support in being a foster parent! Learn more about how Wesley supports children and families within foster and kinship care at: https://lnkd.in/esGifn5e #fosterfriday #fostercare

Fostering and the growth of Families Fostering is more than providing a temporary home for children in need; it's about creating a nurturing environment where both children and families can grow and thrive together. The Impact of Fostering on Families: - Strengthening Family Bonds: Fostering encourages families to come together, working as a team to provide a loving and supportive home for children. - Teaching Empathy and Compassion: Welcoming a foster child into your home teaches family members, especially children, the values of empathy, compassion, and understanding. - Building Lifelong Connections: Many foster families form lasting bonds with the children they care for, creating extended family networks that can last a lifetime. At Black Foster Carers Alliance, we are here to support you on your fostering journey. We offer comprehensive training, resources, and ongoing support to ensure that both you and the children in your care thrive. If you're ready to open your heart and home to a child in need, reach out to us today. Together, we can foster not only the growth of children but the growth of families, creating stronger, more compassionate communities. #fosteringgoals #fostercare #culturalcompetency