Black Foster Carers Alliance CIC’s Post

50% of foster kids are in 5% of U.S. counties. While children of all races are affected by the foster care system, Black children are disproportionately represented and face significant disparities in treatment and outcomes. These children are at a higher risk for negative outcomes later in life due to systemic issues and societal factors. Our Empower Every Community initiative focuses on addressing these critical issues by empowering local churches to take meaningful action. Churches, deeply embedded in their communities and trusted by their members, are uniquely positioned to help reverse racial disproportionality and improve outcomes for all families. Through research, we’ve identified 2,009 “Crux Codes”—specific zip codes where local churches can have a transformative impact. By leveraging the trust and relationships these churches have, we aim to reduce the number of children entering foster care and strengthen families through community-based Care-Sharing. Together, we can address the disparities in the child welfare system and create a more equitable and supportive environment for vulnerable children and families. https://lnkd.in/gjs9CG_7

➡️ Interested in becoming a foster parent? Learn more about how you can make an impact by texting/calling: 864-923-8446 or visiting: https://ow.ly/hKlH50STflO #FosterCare #Heroes #Thornwell #OpenYourHeart #MakeADifference

Wow, an entire 9 years has gone by! 🤯 9 year ago today I joined National Fostering Group as a Carer Recruitment Officer for the incredible team in the video below 👇 I never could have imagined all these years later the career journey I would go on, it’s been a ride! 👏 Here is to reaching the big 10 years and seeing what exciting plans we can launch 🚀 over the next 12 months! #career #loveyourjob #marketing #fostering

We know that Mother's Day can be tricky to navigate for our foster carers and young people. Here is some advice from some of the staff at Hope: - Understand the value of the day to your young person - There is no right or wrong way to celebrate - Acknowledge the child's emotions around loss - Allow them to have the family they want and need - Understand that this is a very sensitive day - find out the children's narrative and feelings before sharing your own expectations and values of the day - listen to your foster children - if they want to do something for their mothers encourage this e.g. buy a card a present etc. We can help to work out how this gets passed on to mum. Also, if the children don't want to do anything, that is completely up to them. It is about taking time to get to know your children and giving them a voice. Some great advice there. 💚 Thinking of everyone who finds Mother's Day a tough one. 🌺 #mothersday #mothersdayuk #fostermums #fosterchildren #fosterparents #fosteringuk #fosterlove #childrenincare #nottingham #strongwomen #fostercare #fostering #blendedfamilies #diversefamilies

Celebrate Children of Foster Carers Month with Us This month, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible children of our foster carers. We recently asked our Managing Director, Richard, to share four words that he associates with the incredible children of our foster carers and include them in a template of a hand. His choices were: •Family •Fun •Calm •Cosmopolitan Richard’s handprint was beautifully decorated with items that represent him, showcasing the unique and personal connection he feels with these words. Now, we want to hear from you! What four words come to mind when you think about the children of foster carers? Put your thoughts in the comments below and let’s celebrate the amazing impact children of foster carers have. Share your words and join the conversation today! #COFCM24 #credocare #fostercare #specialistfostercare #fostercareawareness #fostering #nobarriers #disabilityawareness #disabilityinclusion #fostercarers #disabilityfostering #fosterfamily

June is National Reunification Month, and this year, 47% of children experiencing foster care will reunite with their family this year. That's a fact worth CELEBRATING! 👏🏼👏🏽👏🏾 But while we celebrate, we also can't ignore the other side of it. Because today, in the United States, there are over 100,000 children and youth experiencing foster care who are waiting for permanency. For these children and youth, reunification is no longer the goal-- and instead, finding permanency in another way is. This can look like adoption, guardianship, or kinship care. But too often, it looks like being moved from home to home, from placement to placement, and experiencing disruption after disruption. It looks like being separated from siblings, moving school districts, and being unable to become fully involved in sports and clubs and youth groups and activities because a random move is always possible, and always anticipated. It looks like eating turkey at Thanksgiving with one family and waking up Christmas morning with a new one. For 100,000+ children and youth, that's their reality. A reality that needs changed. In order for us to make a change, we need to be the change. So let's be the change. #fosterthefamily #fosterthefamilyus #thisisfostercare #fostercare #fostercaresupport

How to prevent Black kids from becoming stuck in foster care On average, Black children spend longer in foster care than white children. Black youth are also more likely than white youth to age out of foster care without a family. Despite caring social workers and extended families trying their best to help, these youth often grow up in a system that cannot meet their needs. And their needs are considerable: Kids from low-income neighborhoods, especially Black kids, experience higher levels of trauma and the effects of systemic racism. A systemic response can address that. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e38cxfKA #childwelfare #yatom #fostercare #helpchildren #Juneteenth

Maya Angelou, Bertrand Russell, JRR Tolkein, Nelson Mandela, John Lennon, Malcolm X, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Johannes Kepler, Marilyn Monroe, Louis Armstrong, Samuel Goldwyn. These are all people who thought and felt and lived differently than others. They are all also former children of foster care. I have decided to write a book on my experiences as someone formerly in foster care, including what I’ve learned about family, about people, about social and societal norms, about diversity of thinking and action, about resilience, about structures of power, and about the role of intersectionality in access to opportunities for foster children and former foster children. . https://lnkd.in/euCE4x9N

Always doing it right

This is an interesting article highlighting the challenges associated with Texas' integration of privatization within the child protection system. Regardless of your view point on the privatization, we all must remain steadfast in our focus on serving the best interests of the children entrusted to the system's care. Every Texan plays a role from voters, legislators, parents, educators, and especially those of us serving within the child protective system.