Smart, dedicated and experienced professionals have been working diligently for years to meet the needs of Indiana children in foster care and foster families. I am one of those people.
The need for foster families is always changing, and we often hear the words “not enough” regarding the number of available foster families and support for foster children in Indiana.
That’s why I’m so excited to be part of Every Child Indiana, a new effort that recognizes the vital role foster care plays in providing safe, stable and loving environments for children who cannot safely remain in their original family homes.
Through Every Child Indiana, organizations like Hands of Hope and other statewide advocates, agencies, and organizations are working together to make sure there are always “more than enough” licensed foster families around the state so that every foster child can have an ideal placement in the right kind of home, in the right location, and at the right time, based on the child’s individual needs.
Every Child Indiana considers not just the number of families needed, but accounts for factors that are best for the child, including geography, so they can stay in their same school with their friends during their time of need.
This new approach to recruiting and supporting foster families is both high-tech and high-touch. Through the Every Child Indiana website, you can get connected to local organizations that can provide you with a wealth of opportunities to support children, parents and staff in Indiana’s child welfare system. For those who want to foster a child, an Every Child Indiana member organization will provide training to start that journey. We also know that not everyone is able to be a foster parent, but everyone is able to help foster children and foster families.
I have been doing this work for a long time. In 2024, I see a new beginning for Indiana’s foster children and foster families. Through Every Child Indiana, we have a group of leaders, agencies, and a growing coalition of community organizations with a shared vision. Please join us in helping Indiana foster children and families by volunteering your time, donating needed items, providing support and/or respite care. We all have an important part to play, and Every Child Indiana helps all Hoosiers “lock arms” to build stronger families.
Please join me, my colleagues and other Hoosiers who love and cherish our children to make sure we have more than enough for Indiana children in foster care — more than enough foster homes, more than enough support, and more than enough resources. Please visit EveryChildIndiana.org to see how you can help.
Suzy Roth is the Every Child Indiana Executive Council Chair and is Executive Director of Hands of Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides foster care and adoptive services throughout Indiana. Send comments to [email protected].
