Foster care can feel overwhelming to understand—especially if you’re just beginning to explore how it works or how you might get involved. At Children’s Hope, we serve families and children across Northern California, and one of the most common things we hear is: “I want to help, but I don’t know where to start.” This guide explains how foster care works in Northern California, what families can expect, and how communities play a vital role in supporting children when they need stability most. What Is Foster Care? Foster care provides temporary, safe homes for children who cannot remain with their biological families due to safety concerns. The goal is always to support children while their families work toward reunification whenever possible. In Northern California, foster care is overseen at the county level, which means processes can vary slightly by location—but the core of foster care remains the same: ensuring children are safe, supported, and cared for during a challenging time. What Happens When a Child Enters Foster Care? When a child enters foster care, it often happens quickly and unexpectedly. Children may arrive with little more than the clothes they are wearing, which is why supportive placements—and thoughtful preparation—matter so much. Once in care: Children are placed with approved foster families or resource parents Caseworkers coordinate medical, educational, and emotional support Families receive guidance and resources to help children transition Stability, routine, and compassion make a meaningful difference during these early days. Who Can Become a Foster Parent in Northern California? Foster parents come from all walks of life. You don’t need to be “perfect”—just willing, caring, and open to learning. In general, foster parents: Are at least 21 years old Pass background checks and home safety requirements Complete training and ongoing education Have the ability to provide a safe, supportive environment Many foster parents work full-time, rent their homes, or have families of their own. What matters most is a commitment to showing up for a child. What Support Do Foster Families Receive? One of the biggest misconceptions about foster care is that families are on their own. In reality, foster parents receive ongoing support, including: Training and education Monthly financial support Caseworker guidance Access to community resources Emotional and practical support throughout each placement Foster care works best when families feel supported—and when they know they’re not navigating it alone. How Long Do Children Stay in Foster Care? Every situation is unique. Some placements are short-term, while others may last longer depending on the child’s needs and the family’s circumstances. Possible outcomes include: Reunification with biological family Placement with relatives Adoption or guardianship Throughout every step, the child’s safety and well-being remain the top priority. How Communities Support Foster Care in Northern California Not everyone is called to foster—but everyone can help. Community support may include: Donating essential items Supporting foster families Attending events and fundraisers Offering encouragement and understanding Small acts of kindness create ripple effects that strengthen foster families and help children feel valued. Final Thoughts Understanding how foster care works in Northern California is the first step toward meaningful involvement. Whether you’re considering becoming a foster parent, supporting foster families, or simply learning more, your interest matters. When communities come together, children experience stability, dignity, and hope—exactly when they need it most. Summary Foster care in Northern California provides temporary, supportive homes for children who cannot safely remain with their families. Managed at the county level, foster care focuses on child safety, family reunification when possible, and ongoing support for foster parents. Community involvement plays a vital role in helping children and families thrive during times of transition.

What Support Services Are Available for Foster Parents Through Children’s Hope Foster Family Agency? Foster parenting is a deeply meaningful way to make a difference, but it also comes with unique responsibilities and challenges. At Children’s Hope Foster Family Agency (CHFFA) — serving families across Northern California, including Butte, Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba, and surrounding counties — foster parents are never on their own. CHFFA provides a wide range of dedicated services and support to help resource parents thrive in their role and give foster youth the stability, care, and encouragement they deserve. 1. Comprehensive Training and Preparation Becoming a foster parent involves more than opening your home — it requires knowledge, confidence, and readiness. Children’s Hope offers trauma-informed training to help foster parents understand the needs of children who have experienced loss, instability, or adversity. This includes education on behavior, emotional regulation, developmental needs, and family dynamics so caregivers feel prepared from the very start. 2. Ongoing Education and Resources Support doesn’t stop after certification. CHFFA provides continuing education, tools, and resource materials designed to help foster parents stay informed about best practices in caregiving, child development, and trauma-responsive care. This ongoing guidance helps parents adapt and grow as their children’s needs evolve. 3. Counseling and Family Support Services Children’s Hope offers specialized counseling services not only for foster youth but also for the resource parents who care for them. These services are trauma-informed and tailored to help families navigate challenges at home, strengthen attachment and communication, and support emotional well-being. Counseling is available in-office, virtually, or in the home for accessibility and convenience. 4. 24/7 Support and Guidance Caregiving doesn’t always follow a 9-to-5 schedule. CHFFA provides 24/7 access to experienced staff who can offer coaching, answer questions, and help navigate tricky moments or unexpected challenges. Foster families know they can reach out at any time for real-time support and reassurance. 5. Specialized Placement and Respite Options Not every child has the same needs — and CHFFA recognizes that. The agency supports foster parents with specialized placement options for children with behavioral, emotional, or medical needs that may require additional care. In addition, respite care opportunities allow current foster families to take breaks while other trained caregivers provide short-term support. 6. Collaborative Care Coordination Being a foster parent often means working with schools, social workers, and community providers. Children’s Hope helps resource parents coordinate care and advocate for their children’s needs — including education, health care, therapeutic services, and life skills development — so families feel empowered and informed every step of the way. Walking the Journey Together From the first inquiry through ongoing caregiving and even transition programs for older youth, Children’s Hope supports foster parents with tools, training, care coordination, and emotional support. This multi-layered assistance helps caregivers feel confident, connected, and capable — because when foster parents are supported, the children in their care can thrive. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to foster with support behind you, this agency shows how partnership, guidance, and compassionate care can make a profound difference.

Haddie’s Kindness Kitchen: How One Eighth Grader Is Sharing Love, One Box at a Time Sometimes the most powerful acts of kindness don’t come from big organizations or grand plans — they start in a kitchen, with a young person who simply wants to help. Meet Haddie, a Roseville eighth grader with a love for baking and bringing joy to others. Over the holidays, Haddie delivered 90 handmade treat boxes to Children’s Hope for foster youth — each one thoughtfully filled with cookies, brownies, and other homemade goodies. She calls her project “Haddie’s Kindness Kitchen,” and after speaking with her, it’s easy to see why her efforts are leaving such a big impact. “I really enjoy baking and cooking,” Haddie shared. “And I wanted to bring that joy to other people.”

Children’s Hope exists because children deserve better. Because foster families deserve support. Because communities are stronger when they care for their most vulnerable members. Twenty-five years in, the adventure continues — fueled by compassion, commitment, and a belief that hope multiplies when it’s shared.

A Season of Giving: How Our Community Brings Christmas Magic to Foster Youth Every December, something extraordinary happens across our community. Small businesses, local shops, bustling offices, and generous neighbors come together with one shared goal: to make Christmas brighter for foster youth. At Children’s Hope, our annual Holiday Tag Drive has become one of the most beloved traditions of the season—a beautiful reminder that kindness can transform a child’s world. How the Tag Drive Works Months before the first snowflake falls or the first ornament is hung, Melanie, our event coordinator, begins the work that brings this project to life. This year, she carefully prepared 850 individual tags , each one representing: A foster child or young adult Their age And a heartfelt holiday wish These tags were then delivered to participating businesses—where employees, customers, families, and friends selected them from beautifully decorated trees, bulletin boards, or front-counter displays. To the children who wrote down their wishes, each tag was a hope. To our community, each tag became a mission of love. Where the Magic Happens When the gifts begin to arrive, the true spirit of the holiday season becomes impossible to miss. Brightly colored bags, shiny wrapping paper, toys, books, cozy clothing, gift cards, and treats fill the room—each one chosen with care. And while the sight feels magical, we want to be clear about something: ✨ It’s not magic. ✨ It is generosity. It is compassion. It is hard work, dedication, and the hearts of people who believe every child deserves to feel special at Christmas. Honoring Our Community Partners This year, Children’s Hope is overflowing with gratitude for the businesses and groups who stepped forward to make wishes come true. To every business that participated, every employee who grabbed a tag, every family who bought a gift, and every partner who helped spread the word— thank you. Your kindness doesn’t just fill stockings. It fills hearts.

Inspiring Change: How One Roseville Teen Is Empowering Her Peers to Make a Difference At just sixteen years old, Martha, a junior at West Park High School in Roseville, is already leading with purpose and compassion. Inspired by her passion for law, social justice, and community service, Martha saw an opportunity to do something meaningful — not just for herself, but for others. When she noticed that her school didn’t have a club focused on youth empowerment and service, she decided to start one. And just like that, the Next Chapter Initiative was born — a student-led group dedicated to inspiring teens and young adults to take action in their communities. Now, with a board and 13 active members, the group has already made a real difference. Their latest project? Creating Care Kits for Foster Youth , filled with love and essentials for kids in care. Each box includes two to three hygiene items — such as deodorant and soap — along with small toys, fidgets, and hand-written inspirational cards. The students also donated stuffed animals and new shoes, ensuring every individual feels seen and valued. Children’s Hope Social Workers Kyle and Jada recently met with Martha and her fellow student Joshua, a freshman at West Park, to receive the donations on behalf of the youth we serve. Their generosity and empathy are a reminder of how powerful young people can be when they see a need — and decide to fill it. Martha’s vision doesn’t stop here. She hopes to grow the Next Chapter Initiative into a nonprofit organization, empowering even more students to serve their communities and advocate for meaningful change. As the holidays approach, Martha and her team are already planning their next project — possibly collecting toys for foster youth. With leaders like her, the future is in good hands. ✨ Thank you, Martha, Joshua, and the entire Next Chapter Initiative team , for your kindness, creativity, and commitment to making the world a better place — one care kit at a time. Are you interested in supporting the Next Chapter Initiative? Visit their website !

At Children’s Hope, we believe some of life’s most meaningful memories are created around the table — whether it’s a family dinner, a shared holiday treat, or simply gathering in the kitchen together. This fall, Heather Payne, our co-founder, is sharing a special family recipe for homemade caramels. Heather’s kids grew up looking forward to these chewy, buttery caramels every autumn — and she’s even made them for family weddings! While the recipe takes a little patience, the reward is worth every stir of the spoon. (Her family also loves to undercook the caramel slightly to drizzle over popcorn or dip fresh apples.) Now, we’re passing it along to you — with the hope that it brings sweetness and joy to your fall season. Heather’s Family Caramels Ingredients 1 cup butter (2 sticks) 4 cups granulated sugar 2 cups light corn syrup 24 oz evaporated milk (2 cans) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Instructions Line a 9×13” pan (for thicker caramels) or jelly roll pan with parchment paper, or generously butter it. In a large heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Stir until the mixture begins to boil (about 5–10 minutes). Gradually add evaporated milk, one can at a time, over 12–15 minutes per can. Stir constantly to maintain a steady boil and prevent curdling. Continue stirring until the mixture reaches firm ball stage (240–245°F on a candy thermometer). To test without a thermometer, drop a spoonful into ice water — it should form a pliable, slightly sticky ball. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into prepared pan and refrigerate until firm (several hours or overnight). Cut into squares and, if desired, wrap in wax paper. Tip: For caramel drizzle, remove from heat slightly earlier (before firm ball stage). 💛 From Our Family to Yours At Children’s Hope, we see every day how love and care create lasting memories for children and families. Just like Heather’s caramels — a recipe made with time, patience, and sweetness — the little things we share can make the biggest difference. This season, we invite you to share your favorite fall traditions with the people you love. And as always, thank you for being part of our Children’s Hope family — your support helps us bring hope and warmth to children who need it most.

Conversations with our children shape the kind of people they will become. Talking about foster care is one of those moments where honesty, compassion, and courage come together. Your kids don’t need all the answers—but they do need your guidance to understand that every child deserves love and safety. Below are age-appropriate ways to begin these conversations, along with some reminders for us as parents: Raising Compassionate Kids Children notice more than we realize. They see differences, overhear adult conversations, and absorb cues from their environment. When we take time to talk about foster care, we give them language for what they may see or experience. Most importantly, we’re teaching empathy—one of the most valuable gifts we can pass along. For Toddlers At this age, simple is best. Toddlers don’t need the details, but they do understand love and care. You might say: “Some kids don’t live with their families right now. Other people are helping take care of them.” This framing is gentle, age-appropriate, and focused on safety. It reassures toddlers that all children deserve care, while planting early seeds of compassion. For Elementary-Age Kids School-aged kids are ready for a little more context. They can understand the idea of safety and community support. Try explaining: “Foster care helps kids stay safe when their home isn’t safe yet. We can care for them and their families.” This balances honesty with hope. It also reminds children that foster care isn’t just about the child—it’s about supporting entire families as they work toward healing. For Teens Teenagers are ready to grapple with complexity. They know the world isn’t perfect, and they respect it when adults acknowledge that. You might share: “Foster care is complicated. Families are hurting, and the system isn’t perfect. The goal isn’t to have all the answers—it’s to raise kids who care. Let’s talk about what justice and healing look like.” With teens, the key is dialogue. Ask what they think. Encourage questions. Validate their feelings, even if they struggle with the idea that not every child gets the stability they deserve. The Takeaway No matter their age, children need more than facts—they need space to process, ask questions, and build empathy. Talking about foster care may feel brave, but it opens the door to raising kids who see others with compassion and act with kindness. After all, our goal isn’t perfection—it’s connection.

Twenty-five years ago, Children’s Hope began with a question—and a leap of faith. Today, Children’s Hope supports over 180 foster homes, serving more than 300 children and youth.