Foster Coalition: A Place for
The foster care system can be filled with questions. Foster parents and children often find themselves looking for online resources to help the transition both into and out of foster care.
At Foster Coalition, we aim to be a hub of information, resources, and, most notably, the connection between organizations and agencies that better the road ahead for those in the foster system.
With more than 400,000 children in the U.S. foster care system, there’s a great need for care in this area. In fact, there has been a significant increase in the number of foster children in the system; it’s estimated that six percent of all U.S. children will be in foster care. The system, while vexed with significant challenges and complex in nature, has many well-meaning people working around the clock to make it right.
Foster parents and children often need access to resources that, while forthcoming from pertinent organizations and agencies, may not be in their network or on their radar. Foster Coalition aims to bridge the gap between resources and foster children and parents. In that way, we act as an information hub and vital connection between organizations and agencies and those who need care in the foster system.
By bridging this gap, Foster Coalition works to ensure that volunteers, foster parents, and other interested parties are able to adequately support foster youth. We strive to make foster care a better system—whether the eventual end goal is family reunification, kinship placement, adoption, and/or independence.
Caring for Foster Children
Foster children are among the most vulnerable in our society. The Bible calls us many times to care for vulnerable individuals, in particular orphans and widows (James 1:27, Isaiah 1:17). The need for a connected and developed foster care system is great.
Alarmingly, almost 60% of young men who age out of the foster care system and are legally independent have been convicted of a crime. Comparatively, 70% of young women who age out of the system become pregnant before their 21st birthday.
Young adults brought up in the foster care system have their share of challenges as well. Nearly one out of every four foster care children who age out of the system will not graduate from high school or have the tools to obtain their GED. It’s estimated that 33% of homeless young adults aged 18 to 25 were once part of the foster care system.
Solving Problems
Resources for Foster and Adoptive Parents
Parenting isn’t easy, no matter the situation. However, adoptive and foster parenting present their own set of challenges as well. This said, the right resources can help make all the difference. More than 40% of school-aged children in foster care have educational difficulties. A focus on educational resources can help a child with learning difficulties build confidence and reach new academic milestones. Foster Coalition helps link foster families with these kinds of needs to churches and other organizations that can provide financial, tutoring, and other means of support.
How to Become a Foster Parent
Becoming a foster parent can seem like a tall task, especially without the right resources on hand. That’s where Foster Coalition comes in: We are a one-stop information hub for those in and involved with the foster care system.
If you’d like to learn more about becoming a foster parent or entering into a relationship with the foster care system in a more advanced capacity, please contact us for further support.
The Role of Foster Coalition
Our role in the fostering world is simple: We aim to connect agencies, organizations, churches, and individuals looking to support those in the foster care system. This includes support for full-time foster and adoptive families. We strive to provide solutions that work in many ways.
We do this by offering:
• Resources for all parties involved in the foster community – from foster parent training modules to establishing communities centered around foster care.
• Establishing new and innovative ways to help foster parents and their children by listening to needs.
• Raising valuable funds across the state and nation to be used in care.
• Offering guidance and support to pertinent organizations and parties.
• Providing an unapologetically passionate approach to the foster community, helping to identify and develop leaders in those communities to be an advocate for and support foster children.
Why This Is Our Mission
We are a resource for foster children and the organizations who work closely with foster families and communities. One of our most essential roles is an information and connection hub.
Organizations We Work With
Foster Coalitions strives to identify valuable stakeholders who will offer valuable resources for foster parents, children, potential adoptive parents, and communities of support. We work with others in a plethora of capacities, including for fundraising, resource collection, and more.
Additionally, we work to identify the role(s) an organization can play in the foster community to ensure a robust, fulfilling, and beneficial relationship.
Organizations that we work with include:
• Churches
• Private companies and businesses
• Philanthropists
• Schools and local community centers
The Most Important People
The Foster Children
Foster Coalition is not just for foster parents or anyone considering becoming a foster parent. We aim to provide concise and thorough resources for foster youth too. Part of our role is to offer the children within the foster care system a simple and easy-to-understand resource center to answer all questions relating to the foster community. They are one essential part of why we started our work, and give us the drive to continue with our work.
The Reason for Foster Coalition
We believe in helping those who are among some of the most vulnerable in society, as the Bible calls us to do. We wish to mitigate daily challenges and bring parties involved in foster care into coordination together.
