Coronavirus is tough on foster families, experts say. These groups offer their help
While the emotional toll of stay-at-home social distancing orders has been heavy on many families, it may be even harder on children and parents in foster families.
Being in quarantine makes it impossible for foster families to obtain much-needed support from weekly meetings. On top of that, some families are struggling financially due to businesses being closed down. And those youths who are coming of age and are about ready to venture out on their own could be stuck in the system for now.
Luckily, organizations have been stepping up support and are offering creative, virtual and financial ways to help families during this time.
Foster Village
Foster Village in Texas offers free virtual groups for families divided into three sections: a virtual group for all caregivers, one for dads and one for moms, KVUE reported.
“Having been foster parents, we knew the isolation and sense of disconnect was a really high factor in the burnout rate for foster parents, so we wanted to create that village of support,” said the founder of Foster Village, Chrystal Smith, KVUE said.
Texas caregivers can take part in the virtual support meetings via Zoom calls.
“Children have been taken from their homes and placed in an entirely new environment, and sometimes, their weekly visits with the familiar – their biological parents – is the only comfort. But social distancing has made that impossible,” Foster Village stated.
Smith also plans to have guest speakers join in on the sessions.
For those located outside Texas, Foster Village has a Facebook group named “Virtual Village for Foster Caregivers” where foster parents can connect with other caregivers during the pandemic in order to share resources and offer support around the world.
Youth Villages
Youth Villages is another organization that’s making sure foster families remain cared for during the pandemic.
While Foster Village focuses on the caregivers and mentors of foster children during this pandemic, Youth Villages in Tennessee shines a light on the kids experiencing the emotional effects of being forced to stay at home instead of attending school on a daily basis.
“School was the safest place for kids to be,” Jessi Bernardini, foster parent recruiter trainer for the organization, said to Kristen Gallant of WJHL in Johnson City in an interview.
Debbie Watts, a foster parent with Youth Villages, mentioned to WJHL that some foster children may experience what’s known as “trauma triggers,” a trigger that can bring up stirring memories from the past.
“You know, it’s pretty hard for a child who has been without food or has a situation where they weren’t being fed regularly, or maybe their family couldn’t buy food, and now they’re seeing on the news and social media and just hearing other people talk about store shelves being empty. So that really triggers their emotions,” Watts said.
Youth Villages also has a program that helps children apply to college. It also helps foster children that are already in college by assisting students with their requests to stay on campus or find other housing if needed.
Youth Villages serves in multiple states (not just in Tennessee) including Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, and many others.
Together We Rise
Together We Rise is a nonprofit organization composed of children, young adults and former foster youths. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization, with the help of supporters, is gathering much-needed resources to help troubled families affected by the outbreak.
“In the past several weeks we have learned new terms like, ‘social distancing’ and ’safe at home’ and have felt the impact of COVID-19/coronavirus outbreak on all aspects of our lives,” the Together We Rise progress update says. “Adjustments are being made at home, schools are closing, businesses are making pivots to stay open, and our healthcare system is feeling the frontline stress. These times are difficult for all communities, including those in foster care.”
The organization is gathering emergency resources to help.
The People’s Alliance For Justice
Last week when California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced “$42 million (in) new investments to protect younger Californians who are at heightened risk for abuse and mistreatment due to COVID-19,” he also said that nearly $2 million of that would be going toward extending foster care for youths nearly ready to emancipate.
The Rev. Shane Harris, the president and founder of the civil rights group People’s Alliance for Justice, said he and other state leaders who work with foster children are issuing a letter to the governor, asking him to sign an executive order to put more funding “into transitional housing programs during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to KUSI News in San Diego.
“These programs will need more funding for the high demand of exiting youth that will be headed their way,” Harris said. “They are important programs and that would be a more proactive way to support the long-term effects of COVID during and after.”
This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 7:33 PM with the headline "Coronavirus is tough on foster families, experts say. These groups offer their help."