Becoming an ISFC Parent

By Rachel Mar

There are endless acronyms in foster care, but the one we are adding to your memory bank today is ISFC.  ISFC stands for Intensive Services Foster Care.  Being an ISFC parent entails caring for children with much higher needs than the average child in foster care.  Children at an ISFC level can have medical issues…

8 Ways to be a Part of Your Foster Care Community

By Rachel Mar

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month! Even though it might seem like it, this is not just a month to highlight foster families. This is a month to tell the world how we can all be a part of something bigger than ourselves. There was a quote that I recently read that says, “It…

Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner 2022

By Rachel Mar

This past month Children’s Hope hosted their annual foster parent appreciation dinner. This event was a night full of laughs, limbo, prizes, good food, and even better company.  At this year’s event, we had a community outpour of raffle donations to give to each one of our foster families that attended the appreciation dinner.  We…

Teens Aren’t That Scary

By Rachel Mar

Being a young foster parent comes with its challenges.  One of those challenges has been the fear of fostering teenagers.  I’m not going to say it is a walk in the park, because oftentimes, it’s not.  Teenagers coming into the foster care system can have a much larger exposure to trauma.  They are smart.  They…

Fostering Through the Pandemic

By Rachel Mar

Life throughout the pandemic has been a challenge to say the least.  Families all over the country turned their lives upside down to find a way to stay home far more than ever this past year or two.  Parents who normally work full time took on the role of teacher too.  Kids did their best…

Our Best Day Ever – Russ Adoption

By Rachel Mar

We didn’t know it at the time, but September 17, 2019, was the day our lives would be changed forever. On this day, I got a phone call asking if I was willing to take in three little boys.  I normally talk it over with my husband before welcoming in any new members to our…