We restore hope to children in foster care through innovative ideas built on meaningful relationships.
Children in foster care have the lowest standardized test scores of any group, the highest level of uncertainty as to where they will lay their head every night, and abnormally high PTSD levels. Our “Great Ideas” restore hope to children and youth at every step of their journey through foster care, and engage the community to respond.
Great Ideas Come to Life
We bring great ideas to life that restore hope to children and youth in foster care.
Support Children
Children in foster care need to know they matter.
College Fellows®
Fewer than 10% of youth aging out of foster care pursue higher education and obtain a college degree. Academic and emotional support help youth to attend and succeed in college.
Life Support®
Youth struggle with life skills and goals. Committed mentors provide long-term guidance.
Tutor Match®
Children removed from their home often fall behind in school. Tutoring brings them up to grade level again.
Restore Family
Healthy relationships are the key to long-term well-being.
It's All Relative™
Extended families struggle when a child is removed. Hearing from others who have also experienced significant pain prepares relatives for the difficult journey ahead.
Moms Matter®
Every child wants their mom. Peer support helps moms take steps to be together again.
Sib-Link®
Siblings miss each other. Monthly sibling visits lay the foundation for lifelong bonds.
Connect Community
Awareness leads to an engaged community and system reform.
Care2Foster®
There aren’t enough foster parents. Sharing stories and offering support helps fill the gap.
Life in Limbo®
Foster care is painful for everyone involved. Learn what it’s like to be a child, parent, or foster parent through an interactive role play workshop.
Speak Up®
Change requires a unified voice. Youth, alumni, and the community become strong advocates for foster care reform.
What is it like to be in foster care?
47%
Reunify
Almost half of the children exiting foster care are reunified with their parent(s) or caretaker(s).
50%
Sibling Separated
In many States, over half of sibling groups are separated and placed in different homes.
34%
School Changes
More than a third of 17-18 year olds in foster care have experienced 5 or more school changes.
54%
Mental Illness
More than half of the children who age out of foster care have one or more emotional disorder.
When children enter foster care, everything changes — where they live, where they attend school, their friends and neighbors, and even their doctors. Many children are separated from their siblings, and it's common to fall behind in school. They may feel angry, sad, and confused as they experience trauma, anxiety, and loss.
They often ask, "Why is this happening to me? What did I do wrong? What will happen next?"
What if you were the one to launch one or more of our Great Ideas in your community?
Full program implementation guides, success measurement tools, and live consultations are available for all of our Great Ideas. Use the map to see what programs are currently available across the United States, and if you would like to see some of our Great Ideas brought to your own state, please connect with us for help in getting started.
Our It’s All Relative® and Our Common Loss® programs are web-based training opportunities that are available nationwide.
Foster Family Handbook
Advice and Encouragement for Foster Parents, From Start to Finish
10 Steps to Becoming a Foster Parent
Download this helpful checklist to start you down the path to becoming a foster parent.