February 2, 2025 at 11:30 am

Parenting Lab: Foster Care and Caring for Foster Families

Join us in person on Sunday, February 2nd, at 11:30am as we host a panel discussion on the topic of Foster Care and Caring for Foster Families.

Foster care is designed to provide a safe, nurturing environment for a child whose family is in crisis and temporarily unable to care for them. Foster parents can either be extended family members (called kinship placements) or non-related adults who step up to care for kids who enter the foster-care system. Kids in foster care often are moved from one temporary setting to another. Frequent moves make it difficult for kids to concentrate on school, maintain friendships and family relationships, or begin the healing journey from the trauma that led to them being placed in foster care. Many times when foster families cannot be found, kids will be placed in group facilities or residential treatment centers. Research shows that living long-term in group homes deprives kids of the opportunity to experience the stability, support, and love of a family, where they can develop practical life skills, learn to build trusted bonds with parents and other family members, and have a support network of trusted adults who will care for them now and in the future.

Half of new foster families quit in the first year, often citing a lack of community support. Caring for vulnerable kids is hard work, especially for busy families who have other kids. Supporting families in your community, who are doing this valuable work of investing in the healing and well-being of children in foster care is a tangible and powerful way to love them. Everyone is invited into foster care. Maybe not foster parenting, but foster caring for those who are involved.

You will learn more about the process of becoming a foster parent, but just as importantly, how to support current foster families and the children they care for. Child care and light refreshments will be provided. Registration requested. We hope you can join us!