How Do I Start a Foster Friendly Community?
Foster Friendly Communities are a people-centric, community initiative that activates businesses, faith communities, nonprofits and elected leaders to create conditions where foster families and kids thrive, connected via our open-source platform, the Foster Friendly App.
In Foster Friendly Communities when foster parents say “Yes” to caring for a child, they are supported and encouraged by their communities.
- At least 10% of local retail businesses offer discounts — similar to those offered to other first responders — to help ease the financial burden of fostering and to provide experiences to kids in care that they might not otherwise have access to.
- At least 5% of local faith communities are Foster Friendly. That means their child / youth staff and volunteers are trauma aware; its leaders teach on foster care in a main gathering at least annually and the community offers a ministry for foster and adoptive families (e.g., Foster Parents’ Night Out, Foster Family Support Group, WRAP Teams).
- Elected officials issue a proclamation declaring the community’s commitment to become Foster Friendly, and supports family recruitment and retention initiatives.
- Nonprofits serving families are centralized on the Foster Friendly App.
- At least 50% of licensed foster homes in the community download the Foster Friendly App.
What if there was a way to make a powerful difference in the lives of children and families in need simply by doing what you do best, supplying your business services or offerings, but at a discount?
The Foster Friendly App connects local foster and kinship families with the same types of discounts communities already extend to other first-responders, with the goal to help them feel seen, valued and appreciated.
Faith communities can be THE difference maker when it comes to recruiting and retaining local foster families by providing practical, hands-on support to families. To become Foster Friendly we encourage faith communities to commit to at least two of these three best practices:
- Trauma Aware: Ensure volunteers in child and youth ministry are trauma aware.
- Support Ministry: Provide ongoing ministry to kinship, / foster families.
- Teach On Foster Care: Teach on faith and foster care/ adoption annually.
