Available Resources

May is National Foster Care Month
Casey Family Services is working hard to make this year's Foster Care Month the best ever. It's a wonderful time to recognize foster families and to get more people involved in foster care. Here is some information and material to help with your celebration.

Things You Can Do During Foster Care Month
Change a Lifetime: Share Your Heart, Open Your Home, Give Hope
Ideas for Foster Family Recognition Events or Activities
Foster Care Month Toolkit
Ways Educators Can Help
Facts about Foster Care

Frequently Asked Questions II About the Foster Care Independence Act and the John H. Chaffee Foster Care Independence Program
The most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to these landmark programs that support foster youth transitioning to adulthood. Published by the National Foster Care Awareness Project. Download your copy (casey.org)

What Makes Foster Parents Come and Stay

Coming In: A Positive Experience

• Recruitment response - Agencies respond to foster parents' inquiries in a timely manner, providing information that fully explains the initial application and training process.
  
  
• Family assessment process - Foster parents participate in a mutual family assessment process that allows them to examine their own competencies, abilities and qualifications in light of the type of children they hope to foster.
  
  
• Relevant basic training - Foster parents receive competency-based pre-service training, which clearly defines the requirements and challenges of foster care.
  
  
• Awareness - Agencies convey a message of the impact foster parents have on the children and their families (exercising caution with "rescuing" messages).

Staying on: A Satisfying Experience

• Communication - Foster parents experience a relationship with the agency that is typified by sharing of information, ready access to worker support, within the framework of respect and positive regard.
  
  
• Clear role definition - Foster parents are clear and confident about their rights and responsibilities and agency expectations.
  
  
• Ongoing training - Foster parents have access to a supportive network of caseworkers and other more experienced foster parents when challenges and crises occur. They also have the opportunity to participate in social events with other foster parents such as picnics, holiday parties and award banquets. Other supportive services include liability insurance, planned respite care and quality training events.
  
  
• Inclusion - Foster parents are regarded as part of the team that is responsible for making decisions about the child and family.

Published by the Casey Family Programs National Center for Resource Family Support (casey.org).

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