Foster & Kinship Caregivers

Caregiving is a journey.

We’re here for you every step of the way.

We believe foster care should be about building resiliency and relationships. Our communities support one another in a shared goal of keeping families connected and ultimately reuniting them after being separated.

Being a foster caregiver may look like making chocolate chip pancakes on a Sunday morning, helping with homework, helping a child process their trauma…and it means building relationships that support connection between kids and their parents. Through every joy and challenge along the journey, Amara is here to support you so you can support kids and their families.

Meet the Shafers

With a profound openness to connection with birth families and having gone through the joys and challenges of reunification, the Shafer family shares their story of providing support to kids and families experiencing foster care.

Families Building Community Program

When parents and caregivers build relationships with each other, they can more effectively work together to reduce the trauma often involved in child welfare and make the experience more supportive for everyone involved. Through Amara’s Families Building Community Program, parents and caregivers have the chance to meet, talk about how to best care for children, and build relationships to increase contact between everyone. Together, parents and caregivers can make sure that the child they all love is best supported while in foster care.

Learn more

Youth Development Program

Our Youth Development program supports children and teens who have experienced foster/kinship care or are at risk of child welfare system involvement, and/or are adopted, by providing an opportunity for friendship and community in a safe, supportive space. Our program is grounded in the belief that youth who have experienced family separation deserve a safe, inclusive, affirming, and friendly place where they can build healthy relationships and be supported in positive identity development.

Explore youth programs

Connecting With Other Caregivers

In addition to our experienced and compassionate caseworkers who help families at every stage of the foster or kinship care journey, Amara offers a monthly virtual support group open to all caregivers. The group offers a supportive space for caregivers to connect, share wisdom and experience, find resources, and more.

We also offer a Facebook group for Amara families, and a Facebook group for Amara and non-Amara caregivers who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Color). These groups allow families to share thoughts and experiences, meet other Amara families, share resources, and build community.

Supporting LGBTQIA+ Families

As an open and affirming foster care organization, we are proud to work with all families inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status. We are honored to have been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign’s All Children – All Families program every year since 2013. Since 2020, we have received their highest tier of recognition: Innovative Inclusion. All Children – All Families promotes LGBTQ-inclusive policies and affirming practices among child welfare agencies.

Looking for community resources, supports, and groups? We have a list here.

Connection Can Bring Healing

Amara has been honored to walk alongside Devon and James as they themselves have walked alongside families working hard to reunite with their kids. They are grateful for their time with every child they have fostered, and are especially grateful when they have the opportunity to stay connected with the kids who have returned home. For one family, the relationship they built with Devon and James remains strong two years after reunification.

Questions? Contact us at fosterinfo@amarafamily.org.

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