For their whole lives, he’s been their hero. They looked to him when they were unsure of where to go next. They looked to him for reassurance. They looked to him to chart their course forward.
At the end of the summer, their hero will disappear. He’s ready to be a hero to more than his family. He will enter boot camp and take an oath to protect and serve his nation. For Brave R
“The hoops are too much for me to go through for me to offer such a kind thing.”
I draw my breath in and let it out slowly.
Another applicant bites the dust.
Another home does not open their door.
Another child is left waiting.
Foster parent licensing is a process. It takes time and effort. Completing an application, running background checks and fingerprints, home interviews, MAPP class, CPR and First Aid, obtaining references...I know
He left from school. He had his backpack and his homework. He didn't get to hug his mom.
She left from home. There wasn’t time to pack much, they had to get going. She wasn’t sure what to grab, so she just stuffed things into the garbage bag blindly. Turned out to be clothing from last season. She will have to wear a sweater and long pants tomorrow, even though it will be 84 degrees
According the the national average, nearly half of all homes licensed to provide foster care will quit within their first year of fostering. That means if ten families open their doors, four of those families will close them in less than 12 months.
What does that mean? What is happening?
Fostering is hard. There’s no gentle way to put it. It impacts every facet of a fostering family’s life, from leisure time to work schedules
Dear Ms. 6,
You arrived in a storm.
It’s okay, I whispered, sliding under the kitchen table next to you. I’m scared of storms, too.
I didn’t sleep the first night week month ever again, slipping into your room to make sure you’re still there. “If you get sick, or scared, or hurt,” I reminded you endlessly, “you just come into my room and wake me up, or call my name, and
On Friday, she will get the keys to her first apartment.
She will have all of the same butterflies as every young adult who has taken this step. She will walk up the freshly shoveled path to the front stoop. She will turn the key in the lock for the first time, swing open the door, and step into independence.
She is nineteen. Most of her peers are still at home or in dorms for
What if there was one more bed?
One more bed for a 14 year old would mean that Kayla could step down from a group care program where she’s completed her service plan. She has skills to manage her anxiety and a care team to support her. She could live with a family while her biological family regains its footing. She could feel a bit more like a regular kid.
One more bed for a
May is National Foster Care Month. It is a month to reflect upon the confusing system that is foster care, to keep children in care, foster parents, biological parents, foster siblings (the children of foster parents), foster care workers, judges, lawyers, GALs, CASA workers, and everyone else in your thoughts. And for some of our foster parents, it is the right time to reflect back upon why they choose to foster.
Mama B is one
Applying to Become a Licensed Foster Parent: References
There are many steps to becoming a licensed foster parent. Background checks, obtaining documentation, attending MAPP class, and the homestudy. One of the most over-looked and under-appreciated components of the study, however, is the reference section.
Agencies are required to obtain personal references, employer references, school references (if applicants have school-aged children in their home), and medical references. Agencies may ask different questions on their forms, but
It is an undertaking that can be hard on the heart. When we mention good self-esteem as a quality we seek for potential foster parents, people often give us a quizzical look. Why would that matter? Well, let’s explore that.
Gaining Contol
When kiddos lack control in life, they often seek to find ways to create control. For children placed in foster care, all of the control of their lives has been stripped away. Where
Do you have a question about JRI services?
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.
