In a world full of problems…be a solution. It sounds so simple that sometimes we just forget to do it! Across the Commonwealth we have all been dealing with winter weather challenges this last few weeks and the forecast tells us more is on the way. Imagine for a minute being a kid in foster care right now.

Missing school

Trapped in a house with people you barely know

Remote learning

Not seeing friends

Increased anxiety 

Wondering what’s happening to your parents

Triggers of previous trauma…

All of these can be tough on kids who are in foster care and the foster families who are caring for them.

As people who care about changing the outcomes for kids in foster care, the winter season is a golden opportunity to to reach out to the foster/kinship families we support and check in on them. 

Everyone can do something to help get through this challenging season.

Here are 10 quick examples of how you can be a solution during the winter in your community. Together we can help show kids in care that everything will be okay and help support foster parents trying to keep going.

❤️ Provide a meal or special treat

❤️ Help shovel out – feeling trapped causes tremendous anxiety

❤️ Come over and play a game or help with school work so parents can spend time working from home

❤️ Make sure parents know they are not alone with an encouraging call or text

❤️ Provide extra warm clothes as needed

❤️ Plan something for a future date for the kids/parents to look forward to

❤️ Encourage kids creativity though a fun project or science experiment

❤️ Offer transportation for must have appointments or shopping 

❤️ Connect with the family through a video platform just to say hello

❤️ Be around when normal schedules resume to help kids return to regular routines and parents to recover.

Remember, not everyone can be a foster parent but everyone can do something to improve the outcomes for kids in foster care.

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