Support for Foster Families
When children need to be removed from their biological homes to keep them safe, they need to find loving, supportive homes where they can heal and adjust to these changes. In Massachusetts, foster parents are supported by MSPCC’s Kid’s Net Program, a network of counselors who help foster parents understand and manage the needs of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Kid’s Net also provides respite care for the families and recreational experiences that families enjoy together.
MSPCC also supports the Massachusetts Alliance For Families (MAFF), an organization of foster parents who advocate for the rights of foster children and families.
Adoption Services
When children cannot be returned to their biological families, MSPCC’s Adoption Services facilitates the adoption process for these foster children by screening and providing training for prospective adoptive parents, conducting home visits, and helping to match children and families. Post-adoption, MSPCC’s Adoptive Families Together offers continued training, education, and support for adoptive parents.
ENCOMPASS: Community and Collaboration for Foster Families
ENCOMPASS matches families with Foster Care Specialists who work with foster parents to understand how trauma affects a child and to make sense of a child’s behaviors and feelings. With insight as to why children behave the way they do, foster parents are more effective in helping a child cope with trauma. Caregivers also have the opportunity to network with other foster parents as part of a virtual group designed to further enhance trauma informed parenting skills and encourage peer-to-peer discussions. Additionally, ENCOMPASS engages and mobilizes community volunteers, including friends and family members, to play a role in supporting foster parents by giving of their time and donating tangible goods. Learn more about ENCOMPASS here.
