Foster, kinship and adoptive families have a direct impact on the well-being of the children in their homes.  Caregivers nurture their families in countless ways on a daily basis, but their perspectives are not always included in the decisions that affect their families’ lives.  Being active in working with other child welfare stakeholders to enhance the lives of foster children is a role that caregiver families naturally assume when offered the chance to participate with others in improving outcomes for their foster and kin children.

Enriching the lives of our young people begins with a commitment to each child’s long-term safety, permanence and well-being.  Foster caregivers are uniquely positioned to help make sure the children in their homes have permanent connections with supportive adults.  Caregiver organizations and individual family members can make a personal commitment to ensure permanency for each foster or kin child.

Working together with the child welfare agency is an indispensable part of every caregiver’s experience with the foster care system.  This partnership with front-line caseworkers, administrators, and other agency staff is based on mutual respect and an appreciation of each partner’s distinctive contribution to ensuring the health and welfare of every child in foster care.

Participating in the court process gives caregivers the chance to help juvenile court judges make important decisions about an individual child in the caregiver’s home.  Providing accurate, factual information about a child’s progress and needs gives the court a personal “snapshot” of the child and leads to improved decision-making.  In some situations, foster and kinship parents may also choose to participate in court in other ways that support positive outcomes for a child.

Ultimately, our elected officials enact the laws that govern child welfare practice throughout the United States.  Understanding how to educate legislators about the issues surrounding the nurturing of children in foster care and their caregiver families is important.  Making sure our lawmakers hear the voices of caregivers with real-life experience caring for abused and neglected children helps make sure public policies match the needs of the families that provide daily care for our nation’s abused and neglected children.