Every child belongs in a family, and we want to come alongside the process the Foster Care System has in place for making this a reality.
The Foster Care System provides temporary care while the Department of Children and Families works on a reunification plan with the child’s biological family. While those who work in this system do what they can with their resources, we have learned that there are not enough foster families to care for the children who need them. And while not everyone can open their home to foster children, every person could find a meaningful role in a Care Community.
Care Communities
To serve children within the Foster Care System, we are forming Care Communities around foster families. We learned that the percentage of foster families who continue fostering past their first year goes from 50% to more than 90% when surrounded by Care Communities. These are teams of people who provide emotional support and practical, tangible help as needed. The Team Leader helps coordinate a foster family’s needs, Family Helpers deliver meals or help with chores, and Child Mentors become another consistent adult in the lives of foster children as they develop supportive relationships.
If you are interested in getting involved in a Care Community, your first step is education. Plan on attending an upcoming Care Community Orientation to learn more about the Foster Care System, each role in a Care Community, and how to get involved! Care Community Orientations are not campus-specific; you’re welcome to attend any orientation that works with your schedule. Care Community Orientations will be posted as they become available.
Resources
For some, the next step may be to to learn more about fostering, transitional fostering, or adoption. We encourage you to look through these trusted resources. We would love to offer support to any families interested in entering the process of becoming foster or adoptive parents. Let us know if your family is considering taking this step.
Bethany Christian Services
Bethany Christian Services aims to protect vulnerable children through essential services that include foster care, transitional foster care, emergency care, and adoption. Transitional foster care provides a safe, temporary home to unaccompanied children entering the country while reunification with family in the United States is pursued.
A Chosen Child
A Chosen Child is a faith-based agency that brings together birth parents and adoptive families through domestic adoption programs. They work with many adoption plans including open adoptions, semi-open adoptions, and closed adoptions.
DCF Explore Adoption
Explore Adoption urges families to consider creating or expanding their families by adopting children who are older, have special needs, or are a part of a sibling group. Through public education, expanded partnerships, and social media, Explore Adoption invites Floridians to learn more about the children immediately available for adoption in their home state and community.
Embrace Families
Embrace Families supports children through foster care, adoption, mentoring, and beyond to ensure that children in unsafe situations move toward brighter futures. They offer PRIDE training classes for prospective foster parents who wish to obtain their license to foster.
Safe Families for Children
Safe Families for Children surrounds families in crisis with caring, compassionate community by providing temporary respite care for children so families can get back on their feet.
Have questions or don't see any upcoming orientation dates? Email Community Development Coordinator Elizabeth Cronlund