May was National Foster Care Month, a time to celebrate the hundreds of foster, kinship and respite care providers in Vermont who provide safe, nurturing homes for children and youth when they can’t be at home. It is with deep appreciation that the Family Services Division of the Department for Children and Families thanks them for their generosity, caring, and willingness to “answer the call,” no matter when it comes.
This year, the Burlington District Office held an Appreciation Picnic at Bayside Park in Colchester to recognize families and individuals who step up to keep children safe, support parents and help families stay connected through difficult times. These foster and kinship care providers open their hearts and homes to children in need, some whom they know and some who begin as strangers.
This event was made possible thanks to generous support of, in no particular order, Burlington Bagel Bakery, the Coca-Cola Company, City Market, Simply Divine Café, Green Mountain Foster Bikes, the Fletcher Free Library, Beckie Taylor Massage, and a crew of volunteer from Faith United Methodist Church led by Diane Chamberlain. Many staff members joined the event. We love to celebrate, and look forward to the opportunity to connect and share our appreciations for foster and kinship families.
We are honored to work with these caregivers and their whole households, and we know that what they do is a critical part of how Family Services supports children, youth, and families in the Burlington area and beyond. There is no one event that can truly thank these individuals for all they do. We believe the Saturday we spent together contributed to our ongoing efforts to strengthen our relationships and connections to foster and kinship families who seek to support youth in need. This community of providers and caretakers is rich with love, laughter, and resilience.
Want to join our community of foster parents? There is always a need for more foster families. The Burlington District Office needs families for children of all ages and experiences, including:
· Infants, toddlers, elementary and middle school age youth, and teens
· Sibling sets
· Kiddos with complex medical needs
· LGBTQ+ children and youth
· Teens transitioning from foster care to living on their own
If you are not sure that providing foster care is for you, you might consider providing respite. Respite is providing care for a set amount of time when kids in care are not able to be with their foster families (a few hours, a day, a weekend, or a week or two). Respite often provides foster parents with much-needed time off, which helps them restore and maintain their energy and attention in the very best ways for the children and youth in their care. It is also sometimes to cover summer vacation plans like weekend weddings that don’t allow kids, child care coverage gaps, etc. Sometimes respite providers become a regular and steady presence for a particular kiddo or sibling set in care that is consistent among the inconsistency of being in foster care and the many transitions that are part of all our lives.
For more information about becoming a foster care or respite provider, please contact our Resource Team at 802-863-7370 or visit us at www.fostercare.vt.gov.
Dan Evans
Assistant District Director
Family Services Division
Department for Children and Families
Burlington District Office
