10 Reasons YOU Want to Be A Foster Parent Many people tell us that foster care is something that they may have thought about for awhile. Maybe you know someone…
Bryan HoffstetterOctober 16, 2024
Parenting is one of the most challenging and rewarding roles we can experience. The journey is filled with joy, challenges, learning, and growth, both for the parent and the child.…
fcmediaSeptember 19, 2024
Once a child leaves a foster home, it’s not at all unusual to find that ongoing contact and communication between a foster parent and child doesn’t occur. Often times, the…
fcmediaMarch 15, 2024
Should You Fear Connecting with Birth Parents in Foster Care? Worrying about interactions with birth parents is understandable but in most cases, there’s nothing to worry about. As foster parents,…
fcmediaMarch 14, 2024
KidsPeace Foster Care has received a $4,500 grant to enhance its efforts to help older foster youth live independently in central Pennsylvania. The grant was made from the Bernard &…
fcmediaFebruary 27, 2024
January is National Mentor Month - but KidsPeace’s Cherished Connections Mentoring Program needs mentors all year around. Often, a young person in foster care has limited to no connections or…
fcmediaJanuary 19, 2024
(NOTE: This is an opinion piece authored by KidsPeace’s Jennifer Udvardi-Morris, and published in the December 15, 2023 edition of the Albany (NY) Times-Union newspaper.) In my nearly 20 years…
fcmediaDecember 15, 2023
The final entry of our “first day in foster care tips” series for foster parents notes the importance of following the newly placed child’s lead on communication: Take the time…
Elizabeth LunneySeptember 11, 2023
Here’s another tip on employing empathy to make a child’s first day in foster care less stressful – focusing on their new environment: Once the paperwork is done (and if…
Elizabeth LunneySeptember 5, 2023
Imagine what feelings you might experience if you found yourself in this scenario: Someone you don't know has picked you up from your home without notice, and you’ve had to…
Elizabeth LunneyAugust 28, 2023
When the average person talks about “foster care,” they may not be aware of the significant differences between specific approaches of care. There are important distinctions between “Traditional” and “Therapeutic”…
fcmediaJuly 31, 2023
What is respite foster care? Respite foster care is an essential component of services in the KidsPeace Continuum of care. Youth are temporarily cared for by another licensed foster parent…
fcmediaJuly 31, 2023
Becoming a foster parent is a noble and rewarding – and necessary - endeavor. Successful foster parents have certain qualities that help them create a safe and nurturing environment for…
fcmediaJuly 23, 2023
Embarking on the journey of foster parenting is a decision that comes with a mix of excitement, anticipation - and, understandably, some fears. It's normal to feel anxious about the…
fcmediaJuly 17, 2023
According to a recent study, children with autism are more than twice as likely to enter foster care than those without that diagnosis. In one county in Pennsylvania, KidsPeace is…
fcmediaJune 13, 2023
KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) has announced that Monique Shoemaker of Muncy, PA has been chosen as its 2023 National Foster Parent of the Year. The organization said…
fcmediaMay 8, 2023
KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) has announced that Matt and Emily Garringer of Muncie have been chosen as its 2023 State Foster Parents of the Year for Indiana.…
fcmediaApril 25, 2023
KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) has announced that Gary and Rebecca Wells of Saugerties have been chosen as its 2023 State Foster Parents of the Year for New…
fcmediaApril 25, 2023
KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) has announced that Shakitta McLeod of Fayetteville has been chosen as its 2023 State Foster Parent of the Year for North Carolina. Ms.…
fcmediaApril 25, 2023
KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) has announced that Michelle and Norman Crowder of Amelia Court House have been chosen as its 2023 State Foster Parents of the Year…
fcmediaApril 25, 2023
KidsPeace Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) has announced that Monique Shoemaker of Muncy has been chosen as its 2023 State Foster Parent of the Year for Pennsylvania. Ms. Shoemaker…
fcmediaApril 25, 2023
Willie and Paula Aristene of Stafford, VA have been named KidsPeace’s 2022 National Foster Parents of the Year. The Aristenes’ selection was announced at the conclusion of the organization’s first-ever…
fcmediaJune 10, 2022
CHALFONT, PA (May 5, 2022) – KidsPeace announced that Christina and Jeremy Schoenrock of Pottstown, PA have been named the organization’s 2022 Pennsylvania Foster Parents of the Year. The couple were…
fcmediaJune 10, 2022
RALEIGH, NC (May 5, 2022) – KidsPeace announced that Blanche Royall of Angier, NC has been named the organization’s 2022 North Carolina Foster Parent of the Year. Blanche was selected by…
fcmediaJune 10, 2022
KINGSTON, NY (May 5, 2022) – KidsPeace announced that Ann Mathis of Kingston, NY has been named the organization’s 2022 New York Foster Parent of the Year. Ann was selected by…
fcmediaJune 10, 2022
PORTLAND, ME (May 5, 2022) – KidsPeace announced that Laurie and Chris Tomascik of Richmond, ME have been named the organization’s 2022 Maine Foster Parents of the Year. The couple were…
fcmediaJune 10, 2022
FRANKLIN, IN (May 5, 2022) – KidsPeace announced that Madison Eckert and Josh Mandeville of Franklin, IN have been named the organization’s 2022 Indiana Foster Parents of the Year. The couple…
fcmediaJune 10, 2022
Nick and Kelly Kohler are foster parents with the KidsPeace Foster Care office in Kingston, NY. They are the proud parents of a blended family of seven kids and continue…
fcmediaMay 16, 2022
By Kelly Little The Santee family came into foster care looking to foster young children (up to 12 years old), but found success in fostering teenagers facing difficulty circumstances. Julie…
fcmediaMay 9, 2022
By Stevie Bonnevie In April 1993, a young couple suffering from significant substance use disorders had their two children taken from them into the custody of the state. As the…
fcmediaMay 2, 2022
An Adoption Story by Ariel Helman I started my career as an intern in KidsPeace’s Kingston foster care office, and one day I walked into a visitation room with three children…
fcmediaApril 13, 2022
KidsPeace Foster Care in Chalfont, Bucks County, PA has received a $2,000 grant from the Upper Bucks Community Fund at Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. With the proceeds from the grant,…
fcmediaMarch 30, 2022
Heather and Eric Tarpley are foster parents working with the KidsPeace Foster Care office in Muncie, IN. Here Heather reflects on her journey to becoming a foster parent: I was…
fcmediaOctober 25, 2021
Tom and Bradley decided they wanted to become foster parents with the goal of adopting a child. How do they describe their choice of KidsPeace as a partner in that…
fcmediaOctober 4, 2021
Families Making A Difference By Stevie Bonnevie Laurie and Chris Tomascik first became licensed as therapeutic foster parents in June of 2012. “We always talked about it but wanted to…
fcmediaSeptember 27, 2021
“Teenagers only 4 our journey” Like many foster families, Ron and Julie Barker first planned on fostering young children, but through their first placement they found that caring for teens…
fcmediaSeptember 9, 2021
Indiana foster parents Rickie and Julie Clark have been married for 25 years and have two biological adult children. Here Rickie describes their decision to become foster parents and what…
fcmediaAugust 26, 2021
May is National Foster Care Month and, after a year of pandemic, how has foster care changed? On the latest Conversations with KidsPeace podcast, we talk with two KidsPeace foster…
fcmediaMay 5, 2021
The stigma surrounding mental and behavioral health services manifests itself in many ways. In the case of the foster care system, one effect is the acceptance of “myths” about the…
fcmediaJanuary 12, 2021
When did you think about becoming a foster parent? We thought about becoming foster parents for over a year. We are in our 40’s and we cannot have any…
fcmediaNovember 12, 2020
The need for foster parents is acute even in the best of times. Today, amid the crisis stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, many kids are still waiting for foster families…
fcmediaMay 1, 2020
Lynnita and Tom Petroski from Hawley, PA are foster parents working with the KidsPeace Foster Care office in Honesdale. This is their story on how they became foster parents. Lynnita’s…
fcmediaDecember 21, 2019
You’re feeling frustrated; as much as you love being a foster parent, it isn’t always easy. Your child is facing significant challenges and dealing with difficult behaviors in public -…
Caitlin DeLatteOctober 11, 2019
Remember first and foremost, you are CHOOSING to be a foster parent. You need to make sure that you are going into foster care with the intention of having the…
Rebecca CadeOctober 1, 2019
When a parent brings foster children into the home, the additional child will change your family dynamics. After all, it is not just the adults who will be fostering this…
Bryan HoffstetterOctober 1, 2019
Having provided therapeutic foster care with KidsPeace in Maine for seven years, Betty Ann Wilder certainly understands what goes into developing a solid transition plan for a child leaving her…
fcmediaSeptember 30, 2019
There are a lot of factors that can affect a foster child’s academic performance - including prenatal drug exposure, lack of early childhood education, frequent school changes, and lack of…
Heather MooreAugust 9, 2019
When it comes to school, there are plenty of challenging behaviors kids might exhibit, and some of them might make you feel very concerned. What is triggering my child? What…
Caitlin DeLatteAugust 9, 2019
Parenting Difficult Behaviors | Temper tantrums Temper tantrums are among the most challenging behaviors for foster parents to manage because from the outside it looks like the child has complete…
Heather MooreJuly 23, 2019
KidsPeace Foster Care has received $16,000 in gifts to help its Bucks County (PA) foster families cope with the first month of a placement of an opioid-impacted infant or toddler. …
fcmediaJune 11, 2019
They are the youngest victims of America’s opioid epidemic – babies born to addicted mothers, who enter the world dependent on the drugs and at risk of severe withdrawal symptoms.…
fcmediaMay 31, 2019
I was a teenager when I first heard of the concept of fostering. My parents were well known for taking in people down on their luck: my best friend whose…
Betsy FarkasMay 30, 2019
“I didn’t set out to be a single parent. I set out to be the best parent I can be…and that hasn’t changed.” Single parenting is hard work. After…
fcmediaMay 16, 2019
The Working Foster Parent When I talk to other families about becoming foster parents the number one thing they say to me is “I could never do that. I work…
fcmediaFebruary 22, 2019
There are many people that have helped me in the sport of horseback riding. My trainers and my family members are all supportive, but my “unsung hero” is my adoptive…
fcmediaJanuary 30, 2019
Q and A with foster parents Delwin and Dyiane Gillman, East Stroudsburg, PA: When did you think about becoming a foster parent? Dyiane and I were watching television and ads…
fcmediaOctober 16, 2018
On our podcast, we invite you to meet an Indiana foster teen and hear her insights about how she grew from a troubled child into a college student and scholarship…
fcmediaOctober 12, 2018
Daysha Copeland is an 18-year-old girl who has been in and out of foster care since 2006. Since coming to KidsPeace in 2014 she has been in three different foster…
fcmediaAugust 27, 2018
It’s that time of year again – families are starting to get ready for summer to end and school to begin. On the latest episode of the Conversations with KidsPeace podcast,…
fcmediaAugust 15, 2018
“My name is Carmen, and my husband is Joe. Two years ago my family and I talked about wanting to become a foster care family. It was a long hard…
fcmediaJuly 12, 2018
Here’s to “The Warren Warriors!” By Bobbi Gagnon, Family Resource Specialist, KidsPeace Maine Opening one’s home to foster care is a very challenging, yet rewarding undertaking… but adopting children who…
fcmediaJune 13, 2018
One of the heart-breaking aspects of America’s opioid epidemic is its impact on foster care – especially when it comes to babies whose mothers used the drugs during pregnancy. In one…
fcmediaMay 14, 2018
Significant changes are rocking the foster care system in America. What’s next for foster care and the kids who need it? In this episode of the podcast series “Conversations with…
fcmediaApril 23, 2018
For the third year in a row, the Indianapolis office of KidsPeace is offering its foster children “Camperships” - scholarships to attend summer camp. The idea originated in the spring…
fcmediaApril 6, 2018
Your family member has decided to become a foster parent and to care for children from foster care in their home. Let me share something with you; they will need…
Dr. John DegarmoJanuary 8, 2018
As we look ahead to a new year, this can be a time to reflect on how we’ve parented the children. Parenting children with special needs is a challenge. Often…
Bryan HoffstetterJanuary 5, 2018
We asked some KidsPeace foster parents how they make the holiday season special for kids in their care…. Bryan and Mary: We suggest keeping things simple so they don’t get…
fcmediaDecember 14, 2017
What is it that makes someone a great foster parent? The staff at KidsPeace New York Foster Care and Community Programs (FCCP) offered insights into that question as they paid…
fcmediaOctober 26, 2017
When the call came to foster parents Katie and Alvin Harley, the request was simple and direct: We have a baby, can you take her? But for Katie, that simple…
fcmediaOctober 17, 2017
By Cori Ruszkowski "I'm scared," she says. "Just tell me that I won't get my heart broken." I look at this woman who is in the process of becoming a…
fcmediaAugust 18, 2017
Heather Brandt credits the example of her grandfather for her desire to serve others. She remembers how he visited an orphanage on Christmas to deliver presents for children without families.…
fcmediaAugust 11, 2017
By Brandy Clapper, KidsPeace Development When Kate and Charles Tuell started fostering in Maine six years ago, they never thought their lives would be, as they call it, “crazy-hectic-beautiful” and…
fcmediaJuly 12, 2017
When Kristy Wright brought home two young girls as foster children, she noticed a difference right away. The 3-year-old almost immediately called her “Mommy,” but her older sister did not.…
fcmediaMay 25, 2017
“From time to time we have the honor and privilege of reading a piece of writing from of a child who has experienced time in foster care that truly articulates…
fcmediaMarch 6, 2017
Becoming a “Forever Family” By foster parent Lauren Salisbury Andrew and I decided that we wanted to foster, with hopes of adopting, when we were told the only way…
fcmediaOctober 17, 2016
By Bobbi Gagnon Family Resource Specialist KidsPeace, South Portland, Maine By the time Lorrie and Rob Rowan met and got married, they already had raised a combined total of six…
fcmediaSeptember 20, 2016
This past summer the KidsPeace Indianapolis office ventured out to create a new opportunity for its foster children. By partnering with three local summer camps, KidsPeace was able to send…
fcmediaSeptember 6, 2016
Nick and Kelly Kohler are business owners, operating a large day care center, who became foster parents in 2015. Kelly remembers the simple conversation that would forever shape their lives……
fcmediaJuly 14, 2016
15 years ago, Herc Johnson and his wife Evelyn responded to the Governor’s call to action for children. It was a call to open their home to the foster youth…
fcmediaJune 21, 2016
By Bobbi Gagnon Adopting an older child who has been in the foster care system for years…sounds like a tall order for most, wouldn’t you think? Our Foster Care team…
fcmediaJune 21, 2016
UPDATE: Our “Share the New fostercare.com Weekend” effort was a success -- nearly 2,200 visitors to the site in its first weekend, well over our 2,016 goal! Thanks to everybody…
fcmediaJune 7, 2016
Welcome to the blog at the new www.fostercare.com! This blog is one of several improvements on the site designed to improve performance and make it easier to get information on becoming…
fcmediaJune 2, 2016