A Lighted Path | Incubator’s Post

🌟 Foster Care Awareness Month is here! 🌟 🎥 Join us as we debunk myths about foster care in our new video series! To kick us off, Chosen Board Advisor, Erika will tackle the misconception that gratefulness is guaranteed in foster care. While we hope for gratitude from our children, the reality is often different. Learn why expressing appreciation may be a challenge for a child affected by foster care and how your kindness plays a crucial role in their healing journey. Stay tuned for more insights and follow us for updates! 📌 #Chosen #ChosenCare #Foster #Kinship #Adoptive #FamilyHealing #FosterCare #MythBusters #ChosenCare

What is Extended Foster Care (EFC)? It is a program that allows nearly 5,000 eligible youth impacted by foster care and probation systems to delay their exit from age 18 to age 21 each year. The program was created through the Fostering Connections to Success Act, also known as AB 12, to improve life outcomes among young adults impacted by the foster care system. AB-12 took effect on January 1, 2012. Long-term studies have found that more time in EFC contributes to: * Education (secondary school completion & college enrollment) * Employment (more time employed) * Savings (greater amount in savings) * Social support (more connections to professionals) * Hardships (lower public food assistance, fewer economic hardships, less homelessness/couch-surfing) * Family formation (decreased pregnancy) * Criminal justice (lower arrest & conviction) By coupling EFC with Unity Care support, we are bringing our young adult clients another step closer to lifelong self-sufficiency and ending the intergenerational cycle of poverty they grew up in.

Misconceptions about foster care adoption abound and often prevent loving families from opening their home to children and teenagers lingering in foster care. To adopt, you need to provide a safe, stable, loving environment. That does not mean you need to be married, own a single-family home or earn a specific salary level. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gAhez-Ai

National Foster Care Day Messages and Quotes https://lnkd.in/dKDfhzdR Sharing the inspiring Foster Care quotes and adoption sayings with everyone. Find the best collection of National Foster Care Day messages, Status and Greetings. #FosterCareDay #FosterCareDayQuotes #FosterCareDayMessages #NationalFosterCareDay #FosterCareDayStatus 

I have a lot of new connections on LinkedIn so I thought I would share a bit about myself! 👉 I’m a passionate advocate for foster care and care leavers, and actively involved with FosterWiki. It’s been incredibly fulfilling supporting individuals on their journey and working towards positive change. 👇 Navigating the journey of taking young children through foster care and into shared lives has been both challenging and rewarding for me. Each child became an integral part of my family, and by providing them with a loving and stable home, they have all thrived. Never being able to return home, over years we’ve become their family and primary support, prioritising each of their unique needs. Family is everything to them and they claimed us! What I find the most frustrating is to encounter a constant lack of advocacy and aspiration from social workers, because they just keep changing, as many other professionals involved. So often, it feels like I'm the only one fighting for them. Now, as men, who also happen to have autism, I worry about their future care, especially as I grow older… That's why it's imperative for there to be systemic change—a system that doesn't stop caring at 18. Transitioning from foster care into adulthood is a critical juncture, particularly for men with autism. Support shouldn't abruptly vanish once they reach a certain age. We need policies and structures in place that provide ongoing support, guidance, and resources well beyond the age of 18. 👉Ensuring they have the resources they need throughout their lives is a responsibility I take to heart. 👉It's crucial to plan for their future and advocate for systems that prioritise their well-being. 👉Every young person deserves a safety net as they navigate the complexities of adulthood, especially those who have experienced the foster care system. It's time to advocate for a system that genuinely supports these individuals throughout their entire lives, should they need and desire it. 🤔 Let's work towards creating a compassionate and responsive framework that respects their autonomy and provides lifelong care and support. #Advocacy #FosterCare #CareLeavers #FosterWiki

Foster care holds the promise of providing nurturing homes for children in need, yet it often falls short of meeting its lofty goal. The foster care system was designed to offer children the chance to escape harmful environments and find safety and stability in loving homes. For many, it's a lifeline to a brighter future. However, the system is often overloaded, leading to insufficient resources and support for both foster parents and child. Many often experience multiple moves between foster homes, disrupting their sense of stability and security. These same youth will often face a myriad of challenges, from mental health issues stemming from trauma, to difficulties in forming lasting relationships due to frequent relocations. Aging out of the system can be particularly daunting, as many youth lack the necessary life skills and support networks to navigate adulthood successfully. Amidst the challenges and shortcomings of the foster care system, Life After Care (LAC) emerges as a beacon of hope, bridging the gap for youth transitioning out of care. LAC is dedicated to providing support, guidance, and resources to empower these resilient individuals as they navigate the complexities of adulthood. Together, we're building a community where every young person has the opportunity to thrive beyond foster care. Join LAC in our mission of empowerment and transformation for the youth we serve. #fostercareawareness #bridgingthegap #creatinganimpact #fostercare

▫ Welcoming a child into your home through Foster Care, is a remarkable display of selflessness and compassion. ▫ Nurturing an infant through Foster Care demonstrates the same level of dedication, with the overarching objective remaining the same ~to provide temporary care and support until they can be reunited with their biological parents or relative kin, if feasible. ▫ In cases where this isn't achievable, the primary aim shifts towards finding a permanent, loving home through Adoption. 💭 #LoftusVergariAndAssociates #LVA #Myths #FosteringInfants #FosterCare #Objectives

🚨 Crisis in Foster Care Availability: A Growing Concern 🚨 The foster care system is facing a severe shortage of foster carers, leaving children displaced from their communities and sometimes separated from siblings. This crisis not only impacts emotional well-being, but also disrupts education and damages mental health. 💔 Governments are making strides to address the issue, with efforts to recruit and retain more foster carers. However, the need remains urgent! Sharing stories from current foster parents and discussing the emotional and logistical challenges of fostering can help raise awareness and inspire more people to step forward. 🏡💙 Together, we can ensure every child finds a stable, loving home. #FosterCareCrisis #SupportFostering #ChildWelfare #FosterCarersNeeded #MentalHealthMatters #SiblingSupport #TheFosteringNetwork

Legislative Changes Affecting Foster Care Recent legislative efforts aim to address systemic flaws and improve outcomes for children in foster care. For example, the Family First Prevention Services Act in the United States prioritizes family placements and preventative services to reduce the reliance on institutional care. Such laws reflect a growing recognition of the importance of stable, family-like environments for children’s development.

Are you a teacher with a student in your class experiencing foster care? Are you a therapist or mental health professional looking to understand more about the foster care journey? At Foster Village Charlotte, we recognize that many people touch the child welfare system but may have limited knowledge about the complexity- including, but not limited to - teachers, school administrators, therapists (occupational, speech, mental health, physical), nurses, and many more. That's why we are investing time for the rest of 2024 in providing one-hour virtual consultations that will help support and guide any professional connected to a child experiencing foster care. We're here to brainstorm, answer questions, and build confidence in advocating for and caring for children. You can book a consultation here: bit.ly/FVCofficehours