JRI Leader in Social Justice
EnglishEnglish
EnglishEnglishBengaliBengaliChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Simplified)FrenchFrenchHaitian CreoleHaitian CreoleHindiHindiIgboIgboJapaneseJapanesePortuguesePortugueseRussianRussianSpanishSpanishYorubaYoruba

JRI Fostercare Blog

Articles related to: Trauma Informed Care

8 min read

Thanksgiving: A Complicated Holiday

By Courtney Edge-Mattos on November 19, 2024

A multi-racial, multi-generational group of people gather around a kitchen island. They are chopping vegetables and have a holiday turkey ready. Most people are laughing and engaged, but one teenage boy is cutting vegetables and appears disconnected from the others.

Thanksgiving: a time for gratitude, family, and gathering.

For children and youth in foster care, holidays of all sorts can be triggering.  Thanksgiving can have additional layers of difficulty. 

As caring adults supporting children and youth in foster care, it is important to understand these complexities and offer meaningful support.

Thankful

“Adoption loss is the only trauma in the world where the victims are expected by the whole of society to be grateful.”-

Tags:

Read More
3 min read

Top 5 Reasons Foster Families Choose JRI

By Courtney Edge-Mattos on February 18, 2022

Why do fostering families choose JRI? Let's learn!

5 Top Reasons Foster Families Choose JRI

It is hard to know where to start with foster care.  Do you choose a state agency or a private agency?  What are the differences?  What supports will you need?  Which is the right fit?

We asked our foster families why they choose JRI and here are the Top Five Reasons our foster families cited!

  1. The Staff!

Time and time again, our foster families cited the positive relationships

Tags:

Read More

Foster Care...Foster Hope

A Blog to Support Foster Parents

Our foster care program is rooted in the principle that every child deserves to feel safe, to be nurtured, and to thrive. Our foster families and staff are committed to maximizing each child's potential within our stable and loving foster homes.

Remember:

  • Stable homes nurture neglected children.
  • Compassionate homes mend painful pasts.
  • YOUR home can change the life of a child.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please complete our foster care interest form.

Featured Posts

Preparing for An Arrival

You’ve taken the classes.  You’ve been fingerprinted, interviewed, reference-checked.  You’ve watched the “Removed” movie fourteen times.  You’ve read blogs and

Read More

Helping Hands

There are so many wonderful people out there who want to support the children and families with whom we work. 

Read More

@JRISocialJstce

JRI Service Navigator

Do you have a question about JRI services?

(508) 468-6042
navigator@jri.org
Rachel Arruda

Rachel has been a part of the JRI team since January, 2000. For over 20 years, Rachel has been working in the field of human services assisting families with accessing and navigating services. Rachel received her Bachelors degree in psychology and Masters Degree in Public Administration from Bridgewater State University. She was promoted in July 2005 to Family Networks Program Director where she closely worked with the Department of Children Families for 10 years ensuring that children and families received the highest quality of individualized services ranging from community based through residential care. Rachel is very dedicated to helping the individuals she works with and is committed to improving the lives of children and families. Rachel’s passion for creative service programming inspires her in her role as JRI Service Navigator.