Did you know that businesses play a vital role in supporting foster families and kids in care?
At Tennessee Kids Belong, we believe that when the business community steps up, it creates a stronger, more supportive environment for kids in care and those who embrace them. Foster Friendly Businesses use their unique products or services to benefit foster families by removing barriers to access their offerings. As a result, families build connection over meals together, create lifelong memories at local attractions, capture sweet moments during photography sessions, heal with the help of trauma-informed counselors and so much more.
Foster Friendly® Businesses serve as safe spaces within the community, where everyone is welcome and staff are attuned to the unique needs of kids in care. Internally, businesses experience the rewarding sense of corporate responsibility and community engagement while building a culture of compassion and inclusivity. We encourage your business to align with a non-controversial cause with generational impact. Here are 3 easy ways to get your business involved.
1️⃣ Become Foster Friendly®
Offer discounts or special services to foster families to help lighten their load. Even small perks can make a big impact! Foster and kinship parents access offers through the innovative Foster Friendly® App and receive instant access to a statewide network of support. The exclusive discounts and services found on the app alleviate financial pressures and feelings of isolation, allowing families to keep their homes open longer and best serve those placed in their care. Supporting kids in foster care is something that everyone can agree on – it is a non-controversial way to show social responsibility.
2️⃣ Use Your Platform
One of the most powerful ways your business can become Foster Friendly® is by using your voice to raise awareness. Whether you have a strong social media following, an engaged customer base, or a physical storefront, your platform can help shine a light on the needs of kids in foster care and encourage community support.
📢 Amplify the Message on Social Media, in Newsletters or at Your Location
By posting about foster care needs and featuring kids waiting to be adopted, you can help connect potential families with children looking for a forever home. We can provide ready-to-share content, including graphics, videos, and impactful messaging, making it easy for you to participate. If your business sends out a newsletter, consider dedicating a section to foster care awareness. This could be as simple as a monthly spotlight on a child waiting to be adopted, a personal testimony from a foster family, or a call to action encouraging customers to get involved. We can provide assets and language to seamlessly integrate this into your existing communications.
Brick-and-mortar businesses have a unique opportunity to raise awareness in their space. By displaying posters, flyers, or digital signage about foster care and adoption, customers can learn more and take action. Whether it’s at the checkout counter, break room, or a dedicated community board, every touchpoint matters in spreading the word.
3️⃣ Inspire Your Team and Customers
Encourage your employees to be part of the movement by sharing about foster care on their own platforms or participating in company-sponsored initiatives. Our team can set up a lunch and learn to speak with your employees about how they can support foster care through volunteering, making a donation, wrapping around foster parents, or fostering themselves.
At the heart of it all, awareness leads to action. By using your platform to uplift the voices of kids in foster care, your business can make a lasting impact in helping children find families and ensuring foster families feel supported. Ready to get started? We’re here to help with resources, content, and ideas to fit your brand’s mission! Click the button below to connect with a team member in your area!
🗓️ Planning Ahead – May is Foster Care Awareness Month
May is Foster Care Awareness Month, making it the perfect time for your business to step up and make a difference. Whether it’s launching a social media campaign, featuring foster care stories in your newsletter, or hosting a community event, there are countless ways to show your support.
Let’s work together to raise awareness, inspire action, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to belong.
