On Wednesday, September 13, 2017 @SaintAorg hosted our second #FosterChat on Twitter in partnership with the Coalition for Children, Youth & Families. We looked into the need for foster care and why you should foster. According to our Twitter snapshot on Union Metrics, our twitter chat had over 100,000 potential impressions, reaching 5,894 people.
Thank you to everyone that participated, if you missed September’s #FosterChat, you can join us next month as we discuss shared parenting, the ins and outs of co-parenting on Wednesday, October 11 at Noon (CST). Below is our recap of this month’s informative and insightful chat.
Q1: Is there an unmet need in foster care?
A1.b: The need for foster parents is great! In Wisconsin, about 6,250 children are in need of a nurturing, stable & loving home. #FosterChat
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
A1: Yes. There is always a need for foster parents, especially homes for siblings, teens, and school-aged children. (1/2) #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A1: Additionally, the opioid crisis has increased the need for foster homes around the state. (2/2) #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A1: There is always a need for caring indivuduals to make a defference in the lives of children in our community! #Fosterchat
— Michelle Keller (@KellerMD05) September 13, 2017
See all the great answers to question 1 here!
Q2: What are the needs of the kids in general foster care?
A2: Children in (general) FC have minimal to moderate physical, behavioral and emotional issues from exposure to maltreatment. #FosterChat
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
A2: Love. Patience. Understanding. Safety. Security. The basics all children need! (1/2) #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A2: Children in foster care also benefit from foster parents who understand trauma. (2/2) #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
a2: safe environments in order to thrive & develop social & emotionally #FosterChat
— Fostering Footprints (@Fosterfootprint) September 13, 2017
See all the great answers to question 2 here!
Q3: What are the needs of the kids in treatment foster care?
A3.b: Foster families must be able to provide close supervision of the child and be an active member of the treatment plan. #FosterChat
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
A3: Much the same as general foster care do – but they may have higher behavioral, emotional, or medical needs. #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A3. Treatment foster care kiddos do have great challenges to overcome, emotionally, medically, etc. Rewards are greater though #FosterChat
— Michelle Sieg (@MichelleSieg) September 13, 2017
See all the great answers to question 3 here!
Q4: What are the challenges of siblings entering foster care?
A4.b: The traumatic consequences of separation may include additional loss, grief and anxiety over their siblings’ well-being. #FosterChat
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
A4: One of the challenges for siblings in foster care is being able to stay together. (1/4) #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A4: Check out our tip sheet on Fostering Siblings in Separate Homes: https://t.co/cm4n2WqJEV #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A4. Siblings need to stay together, they heal better together #FosterChat
— Stephanie Allen (@mrsstepallen81) September 13, 2017
See all the great answers to question 4 here!
Q5: What are the challenges of teens entering foster care?
A5.2: Teens who exit group care without a family are more likely to become homeless, on public assistance or incarcerated. #FosterChat
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
A5: There is a high need for foster parents willing and able to care for teens and tweens in Wisconsin. (1/3) #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A5. Many people don't realize teens are kids too and they need love and support. Teens need families not group homes. #FosterChat
— Stephanie Allen (@mrsstepallen81) September 13, 2017
A5: The stigma that teens are being placed in foster care because it is something they did. #FosterChat
— Michelle Keller (@KellerMD05) September 13, 2017
A5. Awareness – not many people realize 25% of WI foster kids are teenagers. #fosterchat
— Michelle Sieg (@MichelleSieg) September 13, 2017
See all the great answers to question 5 here!
Q6: What are your top 3 reasons someone should foster a teen?
A6: #FosterChat
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
1 Need just as much love as a young kid
2 Need a help transitioning into adulthood
3 No bottles/burp cloths/getting up early
A6: Teens have great ideas for fun family activities and are always up for adventure! (2/4) #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
See all the great answers to question 6 here!
Q7: How can foster parents work with biological parents towards reunification?
A7.b: …modeling positive parenting skills and encourage the biological parents to meet their goals. #FosterChat
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
A7: Foster parents can be mentors and co-parents, just like these foster parents share: https://t.co/jyv458nAmm #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A7: Start out with empathy and basic communication. #FosterChat
— Michelle Keller (@KellerMD05) September 13, 2017
A7. Shared parenting, keep bios in the loop on what is going on with their child/ren, welcoming bios to events in the kids lives #fosterchat
— Stephanie Allen (@mrsstepallen81) September 13, 2017
See all the great answers to question 7 here!
Q8: What do foster youth need most?
A8: Love, guidance and a strong support system that will encourage them to be the best that they can be. #FosterChat
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
A8: They need acceptance, stability, consistency, love. What ALL children need! (1/3) #fosterchat
— Coalition for CYF (@CoalitionforCYF) September 13, 2017
A8: #fosterchat Youth need caring connections and lots of resources. GRiD MKE is an app ready for download
— Michelle Sieg (@MichelleSieg) September 13, 2017
A8: Patience, understanding, and love. #FosterChat
— Michelle Keller (@KellerMD05) September 13, 2017
A8. Foster youth need YOU!!!!! #fosterchat
— Stephanie Allen (@mrsstepallen81) September 13, 2017
See all the great answers to question 8 here!
Thank you so much to the @CoalitionforCYF and our passionate community for sharing such great answers in this chat! We look forward to seeing you again next month!
Thanks for attending today's chat! Our next #FosterChat will be October 11 (Noon CT) on Shared Parenting – the ins and outs of co-parenting! pic.twitter.com/D214QGL78J
— SaintA (@SaintAorg) September 13, 2017
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