Our Approach

The Need

There are over 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States today. Because of the instability often associated with foster care, being in foster care is a pipeline to some of our most critical social issues:

  • Former foster youth account for roughly 50% of our homeless population and 80% of human trafficking victims.
  • 80% of foster youth suffer from PTSD and depression.
  • 90% of youth with five or more placements enter the criminal justice system.
  • Half of all licensed foster homes quit after their first placement, leading to increased instability for foster youth.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Foster youth are bright, capable, resilient kids, and when they are given nurturing environments to grow up in, the tools they need to succeed and a community of support, they are empowered to overcome adversity and become who they are created to be.

Our Mission

To come alongside children and families in the child welfare system and show them that they are not alone.

90% of surveyed foster and kinship families report that the services provided by a Foster Village location were a sustaining factor in their ability to continue fostering. 

Our Values

Bringing Dignity to the System: We strive to bring dignity to the children and families we serve, understanding the root causes of why a child ends up in the foster care system and facilitate relationships between foster families and biological families when it is healthy and possible. We understand that isolation and disconnect are the real villains, and we are here to make sure no one feels alone.

Holistic Approach: Everything we do is trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate, creating safe, loving spaces for children in foster care and their families. We understand the context around the child welfare system, including the causes and effects of foster care and the social framework that has created the system. Though our work is focused on hands-on support of families today, we seek to create a better future for our community’s vulnerable children by intentionally addressing the gaps in the system.

Sustained Care: High burnout and turnover rates among foster families are common, and this creates even more instability for foster children as they are moved from home to home. Our goal is to provide foster and kinship families the support needed in order to keep welcoming children into their homes. 

Inclusive Community: Everyone is welcome in our village. We serve foster families, kinship caregivers, and biological parents and welcome volunteers from all backgrounds.