Overview
Children need more than a system; they need a village.
Families experiencing foster care often feel tired and alone. Most caregivers foster for less than a year, citing burnout and lack of support. At the same time, 85 percent of people who are not foster parents say they care about vulnerable children and want to help.
Foster Village bridges this gap between those experiencing foster care and those who want to help, meeting practical needs and providing holistic support beyond the system.
“As a foster parent, I cannot emphasize enough how critical the work of Foster Village is to the child welfare community.
The holistic support that they provide to all involved (foster parents, bio parents, kinship caregivers, and the kids at the center of everything) provides the connection and support necessary for these families to continue fighting the good fight."
We help to accomplish this through three main pillars.
Equipping Caregivers With Support
When a child is placed with a family, they often arrive with just the clothes on their back. At Foster Village resource centers, families and children can get clothing, new car seats, toiletries and other basic necessities – completely free, in a trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and comfortable environment. Welcome Packs can also be delivered within the first 24 hours of receiving a new placement.
Connecting Families to Each Other
Families intersecting with foster care navigate a complex system and unique challenges that come with caring for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and family separation. When others who are on that same journey offer solidarity and encouragement, caregivers are reminded that they are not alone. By connecting caregivers to one another and to a supportive community, families are strengthened and empowered to be a steadfast source of healing and safety for the children in their care.
Advocating for Community Beyond the System
Foster care is a messy solution to a messy reality. We believe the path to restoration is a safe and supportive community beyond the system. Foster Village upholds the inherent dignity of every child and family, understands the root causes of children entering the foster care system, facilitates relationships between foster and biological families, and replicates villages of support around the nation. We inform and engage the community by elevating the voices and stories of those with lived experience. At Foster Village, we bring awareness to the greatest needs and bridge those gaps so that every family can thrive.
By caring for the caregivers and mobilizing an engaged community, we empower generations of vulnerable children and families to overcome adversity.
Our original Foster Village location in Austin, TX has been featured nationwide! Join the movement with us.
Costco Magazine, The Washington Post, Austin American Statesman, Community Impact, Telemundo, The Archibald Project, K-LOVE Radio
"Foster Village goes above and beyond in their support to foster families, kinship families, and reunifying families! After welcoming a placement of three kids into our home in the middle of the night, Foster Village was on our doorstep the next day with clothes, car seats, backpacks, toys, and support! Time and time again, they helped meet the basic needs of kids in our home and provided support to us as caregivers. It takes a village to care for our communities most vulnerable children and Foster Village is on the front lines doing so! My family and I are forever marked by the support that Foster Village has given us as they continue to equip, connect, and advocate families and children!” - Tabatha