Fall Season Support

Families providing foster care are in need of support in many ways. This can be a difficult time of year with weather changes, holidays coming, and family schedules being in full swing. Last time you checked in with the family you are supporting, were they able to tell you what they needed...or even wanted? 

During this fall season, when we all might feel overwhelmed or not really know what we need or want, here are a couple of suggestions to support the family fostering kids:

Reach out to them. Take the initiative. They might not have time or energy to ask you for help. You can just give help.  

• Send them a gift card (most places offer digital cards that can easily be emailed)
• If you live near them, drop off a note with cash, gift cards, or a fresh food basket
• Collect money from small group, neighbors, or church friends for a zoo or children’s museum membership or an outing to the family’s favorite place
• Offer to provide a ride for the whole family to an event or activity – be the chauffeur.
• Create a theme basket for the whole family:
  •  A beverage basket with fav beverages for each family member
  • A fiesta basket with all the fixings for tacos
  • A bingo basket with BINGO game and prizes for the winner(s)
  • A first aid basket with bandaids (different sizes and colors), thermometer, ice packs, heating pad/hot water bottle, etc
• Looking to provide practical needs? Here's a link to an Amazon List of ideas:

          https://www.amazon.com/shop/bethevillage

Pray. Specifically for each family and family member, by name, daily. Set a reminder with the family’s name and pause during your day to lift them up to our Heavenly Father in prayer.

• You can just say their name and pause. God knows their specific needs.
• You can shoot the family a text and let them know you prayed for them.
• You can ask them for prayers requests.
• You can also support them quietly and just keep the prayers going.
• Not sure where to start? Here’s a link with scriptures to pray over children in foster care:

          https://theforgotteninitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/24-Prayer-Resource.pdf
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No matter what you can do for the family, your care, prayers, and interest are giving them support. Share your kindness and compassion as much as possible because we never really know what is going on when we aren’t with them. May we all be given the grace needed each and every day.

By Janine Westlund, Family Care Manager