You’ve finished PRIDE training, you’ve passed your home inspection, you’ve bought all the little extra things to welcome your first foster child into your home and now you’re waiting for the call. Use this time to prepare yourself further for the life changing journey you’re about to start. One of the best things you can […]
What Are Flex Funds? Flex funds are a source of money established by the NJ Child Welfare Reform Plan, and every local CP&P office is allotted a set amount each fiscal year. Approval is based on the nature of the request and available funds. Funds are accessed through your CP&P Resource Family Support Worker (RFSW) […]
Everyone needs a little time to themselves, whether it’s for dinner with a significant other or just a few hours to run some errands without a child to worry about. Many parents have several options they can turn to when they need a sitter for a for their child. However, as a foster parent, you […]
It’s back-to-school season again, and by now, you’ve probably gotten the required supplies lists or seen the ads all over television and in your browser. As a foster parent, though, it can be extra tough to find the money to help the children in your care. To make matters worse, all the preparation in the […]
Somewhere in your house you likely have albums full of photos documenting your most memorable childhood moments. Each picture has the ability to transport you back to that specific time so vividly that it feels like you are actually there again. But for many children who are, or were, in the foster care system, such […]
The winter is rolling in and this year you’ve decided you want to spend it somewhere warmer. Your kids are just SUPER excited to go see the new Star Wars attractions at Disney World. Whatever the reason, vacations are a much-needed break from routine for every family. For foster parents, however, there can be uncertainty […]
Adopting from foster care may take longer than you’d like, but it’s worth every moment in the end. Of all the questions foster care organizations like ours are asked on a regular basis, the one that comes up the most is why adopting from foster care takes so long. It’s easy to understand their frustration, […]
It’s all too easy to take your next meal for granted. Many of you may have already planned what you’re going to eat next, who you will be sharing it with and when it will be ready. But for many foster children, meals simply aren’t a given. Before being removed from their parents, some children […]
There’s no time of year more valued by children than summer. With school out of session and the weather prime for playtime, kids—foster or otherwise—are constantly searching for something to do. Look no further than a place where foster children can flourish and build self-confidence while having fun: summer camp. Summer camp can be an […]
Passport to Education: Matthew Schwartz I was left in a police station in Cliffside Park at the age of 13, and then put into a shelter where I spent four months of my life in a place called Conklin in Hackensack, a lock down facility for youth that are in emergency situations – basically a […]