Like the moment I walked in, I was immediately their child and I could feel that energy from them. And I knew that they cared. … I was somebody’s child for once.
Viviana, young person with lived foster care experience from Minnesota
Foster parents help children and their families heal
Relatives can make the foster care experience easier for children
Sometimes grandparents, aunts, uncles or even cousins become foster caregivers, or kinship caregivers, when a child or children needs to enter foster care. In fact, relative placements are considered best practice for children when foster care is necessary. These kinship caregivers offer familiarity and continued connections to family, school and activities that can make the foster care experience much easier for children.
When I was in third grade, I moved in with my aunt and uncle. It was supposed to be two weeks and it turned into two years. And I am who I am today because my aunt, uncle, and my mom had the relationship they had.
Leilani, foster parent with relative care experience from Oregon
Foster parents change lives
If I could say one thing to my foster parents, I would say thank you. Thank you for sticking there when it was rough, sticking there when I didn’t understand who I was, when I was confused, when I was hurt, when I was angry. Because I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for my foster parents. They really opened up a world to me that I didn’t know was there.
Chrissy, a young person with lived foster care experience from Pennsylvania
