Reflections: Stories of Foster Care

Personal storytelling is a powerful way to shape public opinion and motivate and inspire individuals to act. It can also help child welfare professionals and others understand the challenges associated with foster care and identify new ways to approach their work with children, youth, and families.

Read these stories to hear from youth, parents, foster parents, and kin caregivers with firsthand experience with the child welfare system that showcase how partnership and tailored services help support families' resilience and the importance of helping children in foster care maintain connections to their cultures and communities. Or, use them as tools for training new child welfare professionals and recruiting and training foster parents. 

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Narratives

Feature the Reflections: Stories of Foster Care in your State and local campaigns as a quick and easy way to enhance your message. Or, use them as tools for training new child welfare professionals and recruiting and training foster parents. 

  • Maci's Story

    Having someone in your corner can make all the difference when navigating the child welfare system. Maci shares advice for showing up for youth in care. 

    Read her story

  • MariaAgnes' Story

    MariaAgnes has experienced child welfare as a parent, kin caregiver, and professional family advocate. Read her 11 best practices for supporting families. 

    Read her story

  • Jaymi's Story

    Jaymi became a sibling guardian after experiencing the child welfare system herself. She shares her thoughts on the importance of supporting kin caregivers.

    Read her story

  • Ashley's Story

    When faced with adversity, it can be difficult to see the silver lining. Ashley’s story about growing up in kinship care is about relying on love and resilience. 

    Read her story

  • Charla's Story

    Charla, a kinship care advocate in the Tribal child welfare community, shares the importance of culturally grounded support systems for children. 

    Read her story

  • Katie's Story

    As a foster caregiver, Katie learned the importance of forming relationships with the families of her foster children. Read about reframing common narratives about birth families. 

    Read her story