Foster Care
Building Connections through Meaningful Family Engagement: Visit the National Foster Care Month section of Child Welfare Information Gateway website to access personal and digital stories, as well as resources and information for child welfare professionals on engaging and building connections with families, youth, siblings, schools, and community. more
Change a Lifetime: National Foster Care Month shines a light on the experiences of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved – as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. No matter who you are or how much time you have to give, you can help create permanent, lifelong connections for these children and youth. Find more information by visiting the National Foster Care Month website.
When children need to be removed from their family of origin for their
safety and well-being, permanency planning must begin immediately. However,
until a permanent home can be found, the child will remain in the foster
care system. Some stay in foster care for weeks; some for years. The children
are of all ages and varying needs.
Becoming a Resource Parent
Opening your home and heart to a child or youth in need of out-of-home
care by becoming a Resource Parent can be a very rewarding experience!
We understand it is critical that our Resource Parents are trained using
interactive learning, experiential exercises and culturally competent information
if they are to provide for the safety, permanence and well-being of children
and youth in foster care. To accomplish this you and your partner will
need to participate in PRIDE, which stands for Parent Resources for Information,
Development and Education. This 27-hour training program will allow you,
your family and the Department to mutually assess if fostering is the right
decision for you and the Department.
Special Programs
Independent Living Support Program (ILSP)
ILSP supports children in the foster program over the age of 16 in developing the skills they will need for future success.
SEED Program
The SEED Program provides intensive relationship-based services for the youngest children who are in out of home care, their birth parents, and their caregivers in the child welfare system with the hope of achieving timely permanence, either through reunification, adoption, or legal guardianship.
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