Fostering Partnerships

09/29/2021

"Never underestimate how much you can love someone and how it can change their life. Never forget that the hardest ones to love are the ones that need it most." -Unknown

09/25/2021

❤️❤️❤️ Thank you to the incredible team of leaders and volunteers from Converge Community, Centre Avenue Church of God, The Living Well Church, The Bridge, and Centerpoint Church-Kalamazoo who put together a carnival today for Kalamazoo foster families! The smiles are enormous on faces of kids and parents alike. Thank you for your generosity and spirit of excellence in supporting Kalamazoo kids and the families caring for them too.

09/22/2021

To all the foster and adoptive families in Kalamazoo County, thank you for the work you do! We know your work can be overwhelming; you care deeply and sometimes it feels like you don't have enough to give! The investment you are making into Kalamazoo kids is significant and makes a world of difference. You have always been enough!

09/18/2021

Our Kalamazoo County community is in desperate need of foster parents, especially those who can work with older kids or sibling groups. If we don't help, who will? Consider what your faith community can do to offer the support and safety that these kids need in a time of family crisis.

09/16/2021

Have you ever considered becoming a foster or adoptive parent? That dream was planted in you for a reason. Contact us for information about how you can get started, or call 855-MICHKIDS to speak with someone who can answer your questions and help you get the process started.

09/13/2021

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

Kalamazoo County has immediate vacancies for Foster Care Specialists. If you want to be a part of a team that makes a significant impact in the lives of kids and families, consider becoming a part of this important work!

The MDHHS mission is to provide opportunities, services, and programs that promote a healthy, safe, and stable environment for residents to be self-sufficient. We are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment whereby all employees are treated with dignity, respect and fairnes...

09/12/2021

The transition to fall schedules and back-to-school are busy for every family, but transitions can be especially difficult for kids in foster care. Now is a great time to reach out to a foster family you know to offer encouragement and support. Consider offering to drop off dinner a day this week, or help mow the lawn. Let them know that you care in a tangible way!

08/01/2021

If you are a foster or adoptive family, or just want to be better equipped to support kids in your church or community, Trauma Training is an essential addition to your toolbox. We encourage you to join us for this online training! Share this training opportunity with leaders and volunteers in your faith community, and register today with the QR code or this url: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=t7ajzjdab&oeidk=a07eiae0n5yca75ead1

07/28/2021

"On the day I became a licensed foster parent, I got a call from my agency asking me to take a placement of 2 siblings. I'd only been planning to take one child so I had one bed set up... I needed two. As I scurried to prepare for their arrival, others jumped in to give support. Within hours, someone brought me a new mattress, and within 24 hours someone dropped off a bed frame in perfect condition. That outpouring of support meant so much to me and my kids!" - a foster parent

This month, at Fostering Partnerships, we got to be on the other side of that need. The staff at DHHS had a Kalamazoo child who needed a home, but that home needed a bed! One of our local faith communities was able to meet that need and had the bed delivered to the home that day, before the child arrived!

As this is an ongoing need, we've been looking for a storage space that could be used to house a few beds and mattresses that DHHS staff could access as needed. Maybe your faith community would like to contribute toward the expense of purchasing mattresses or maybe your church or home has space to store them until they are needed? Let us know if you are interested in helping meet this need here in Kalamazoo!

07/23/2021

A special thanks to the youth at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church as well as all the individuals in our Kalamazoo Supports Foster Care group on Facebook. This summer we put together "Family Fun Baskets" and surprised local foster families with an unexpected gift. Foster care can be stressful for families and for the kids in care, and it can mean a lot to know there's a community who cares and prays for you. ❤️

07/22/2021

Did you know that local foster closets provide support by giving foster families the opportunity to "shop" for free essential items? The team at North Park Reformed Church has been hosting a VBS this week, and their kids are collecting funds to buy essential items for foster kids to distribute through Braden's Closet! Thanks to the kids and the whole team for inspiring us with your generosity and support! ❤️

07/22/2021

🍎🖍📓🎁Over the next few weeks we are collecting school supplies to get our Kalamazoo kids off to a great start in the new school year. Items we are looking for are: pencils, notebooks, crayons, markers, disinfectant wipes, facial tissues and hand sanitizers. If you or your faith community would like to contribute, you can shop our amazon gift list or contact us about arranging a local drive and item pick up! https://www.amazon.com/registries/custom/3FCSRLY1TT0B8/guest-view?ref=cm_sw_em_r_gr_un_WHbHCRG1dSUoy