One of the biggest emotional challenges for children in care is knowing how they fit into their foster families. When Jennifer (our president) fostered her first child, they spent a day prior to "move in" getting to know each other. Jennifer and her daughter played, watched TV, and painted wooden letters with the child's name to hang in her bedroom to let her know she had a place to call home. The "You Belong Project" was born out of this experience, and the need to create a secure sense of belonging for children in care.
FTC projects are fully funded by charitable donations. Starting this fall a portion of each donation will go towards funding the "You Belong Project." As children are matched with long-term foster placements, we will be providing the families with a kit including: wooden letters spelling the child's name, paint & brushes, and a way to attach to the wall
Together the families and child can paint the child's name and place it on the wall in the child's room as an ever-present reminder that they have a place where they belong.
We thank you for your continued support and giving!
Driving Change
The future depends on what you do today. - Mahatma Ghandi
Child-Centered Language
FTC is working to create child-centered language, eliminating the use of terms like “foster child,” while the children may be in foster care they are children and language should be adjusted to eliminated the associated stigma.
FAtherHood Inititiave
FTC is working with the CT state Fatherhood Initiative and the Department of Corrections to create an improved environment for parent-child visits. We have worked with the DOC to have the incarcerated population support this project by designing family friendly murals that will be painted in the visiting spaces.
Placement assessments
Children coming into care often have experienced physical, emotional, and educational neglect. FTC is working to require comprehensive assessments so that services and planning can be put in place to ensure that children are receiving all of needed resources.
Education
Working to advocate for secondary educational benefits for children in care through.
Permanency
FTC is working to propose accountability standards for the turnover in social workers so that progress is not delayed in reunification, transfer of guardianship, or adoption.
kinship placements
In Connecticut, the hope is for children in care to be placed with family as often as possible.
Family members are not always prepared to support the trauma or emotional needs of the children they are supporting. FTC is working to ensure that kinship families receive adequate training and support.
Foster Parent Training
FTC is working to develop an education portal to support foster parents and caregivers.
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With your help, we’ll continue to make a difference!