The Teaching Family Association’s Post

May is #nationalfostercaremonth and the Child Welfare Information Gateway has put the spotlights on supporting & uplifting adolescents in the foster care system. Did you know a reported 77% left foster care without receiving the federally funded services needed to support them? This year’s theme, “Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities.” will raise awareness about authentic youth engagement, the importance of life-long connections, and how to best support youth as they transition out of foster care. https://lnkd.in/dHYXvThc.

There are many aspects of foster care that need to be considered. Where could better family support prevent foster care? Where can improvements during a child's time in foster care accelerate successful reintegration with family? How can better support offer successful reintegration with family so they do not re-enter the system? Where can better support of caregivers help stability of placement when it is determined reintegration with family is not in the best interest of a child?

In recent years, some children in foster care have ended up sleeping in child welfare offices overnight because there were no foster homes or care centers available. Why is this happening and how can we provide every child with the permanent home and loving family they deserve? Watch this short video for Alex’s story, a fictional story based on the lives of real-life children and families we serve. https://hubs.ly/Q02PxtCN0

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) recognizes the importance of providing students in foster care with consistent educational experiences. 📚 Our blog, ESSA and Foster Care Transportation: Ensuring Educational Stability, explores what this law says about transportation for students in foster care and why it matters. 🚗 Here are some key takeaways: - Students are entitled to appropriate transportation accommodations if they meet requirements - Emphasizes the importance of keeping children and youth in foster care in their "school of origin" whenever possible - Encourages stakeholder collaboration between schools, child welfare agencies, transportation providers, and other relevant parties Read now: https://hubs.la/Q02t_-w00 #ESSA #AlternativeStudentTransportation

May is National Foster Care Month! Join us all month long as we share child welfare-related facts, figures, and resources to help raise awareness and support for Mississippi children in foster care. By staying informed, you can contribute to improving outcomes for Mississippi’s children to the best of your potential! 💙 To kick off National Foster Care month, we encourage you to check out our “An Overview of Child Welfare in Mississippi” report on our website! The goal of this research is to facilitate improvements to programs and policies throughout Mississippi’s child welfare system while also spotlighting areas that are working well.  Access the report here: https://bit.ly/OVCWFMS #NationalFosterCareMonth #FosterCareAwareness

What will the Permanency Project do for foster children? Find children at the greatest risk of aging out of foster care a permanent home by requiring the state to convene a specialized team to: ✅ Identify youth likely to age out of the child welfare system ✅ Thoroughly review the child’s case file from a fresh perspective ✅ Remove barriers to permanency and determine the assistance needed ✅ Create a written, individualized permanency plan ✅ Explore options to place a child with individuals or families ✅ Provide a report on project outcomes #azleg Read Bill: https://bit.ly/3x5yzON #fosteryouth #childrensrights

The foster care system focuses primarily on physical safety, but that is simply not enough. Children need to feel claimed. They are wired for connection. They need to know that they truly belong. We must reimagine a system where every child feels safe, connected, and loved. Alia’s vision is to enable UnSystems that prioritize these fundamental needs. Let’s join forces to transform child welfare in a way in which it truly cares for our children’s holistic well-being. #FosterCare #SystemReform #ChildWellBeing

May is #NationalFosterCareMonth. Learn more about our ongoing legal advocacy to transform child welfare systems from the inside out. #fostercare #advocacy https://lnkd.in/eUhgQWRd

I couldn't be more proud of UHC investing in kids in the foster system. What a great way to help set them up for future success and equip them with the necessary tools to embark on their journey into adulthood. Life is hard without any set backs/challenges as a child and has the potential to become even harder without the tools/resources to prepare them to enter into the community as an adult. What UHC is doing is a great example of how organizations, community leaders, and health plans can become part of the solution and make an investment into this special segment of America's youth. Many kids within the foster/adopt system hasn't had the easiest start to life and this could be a game changer and just one pathway to set them up for future success. #OneCommunity #TeachourKids #FosterAdopt #BeKind #LifeChanging #InvestinourYouth

It's #National Foster Care Month. Too many American families find themselves struggling because of gaps in health, economic, and #HumanServices systems. And too often families are sent to the child welfare system for well-being needs and support that #ChildWelfare was not designed to provide. We need a multi-system approach designed to meet family needs from the start and prevent children from entering the foster care system when not necessary. Explore a new strategic framework for this child and family well-being system: https://lnkd.in/gxqsb7kq