AdoptUSKids

10/08/2026

For young people in care, connections to siblings, family, community, and culture can provide a sense of stability and belonging.

Staying close to her siblings and reconnecting with her Comanche heritage helped shape who Annemarie is today.

In our latest blog post, Annemarie shares what those connections have meant to her—and how adults can help young people maintain these vital relationships and cultural ties.

Read Annemarie’s story: Connections worth keeping: https://blog.adoptuskids.org/siblings-and-cultural-bonds/

09/23/2026

Your podcast queue is about to get a little more inspiring.

Melissa Otero, our national campaign director, joined The Forgotten Adoption Option podcast to discuss the need for more pathways to permanency and adoption.

Tune in to explore how you can use your voice and lived experience to educate and inspire others to support youth in foster care.

Listen to the podcast episode: https://pod.link/1542072701/episode/YWE3N2FkNmYtNjgwZi00MWRiLTgxMWMtMmZkNmNmNTQxYzc5

09/16/2026

Kinship care can help childen and youth stay connected to someone they already know and trust during an uncertain time. It can also help them maintain ties to family stories, traditions, and culture.

What does kinship care look like, and what can it mean for children and families? For , our latest blog post explores the basics of kinship care, with reflections from an advocate with lived experience and resources for families.

Read the full blog post: https://blog.adoptuskids.org/understanding-kinship-care/

When children and youth need someone to care for them, familiar faces can mean the world. Kinship care helps them stay connected to relatives or other trusted adults who can provide comfort, stability, and a sense of belonging when they need it most.

09/01/2026

A familiar face, a family tradition, a connection to community. These things can mean so much to a child. Kinship caregivers, including relatives, family friends, and other trusted adults, provide children with care, support, and a sense of stability while helping them navigate times of change.

September is National Kinship Care Month, a time to celebrate the caregivers who help children maintain these important connections and a sense of belonging when they need them most.

08/29/2026

Back-to-school season can bring more than new classes and school supplies. It can bring a lot of emotions, too.

For youth in foster care, having a supportive adult in their corner can make a meaningful difference as they navigate the transition back to the classroom.

Read our blog for tips on helping children and youth feel safe, supported, and ready to learn:

For foster and adoptive families, school's start can produce additional emotional layers. Fortunately, resources and strategies are available to help.

08/08/2026

A caring caseworker can make all the difference.

For more than 26 years, Darlene Marshall-Ware has supported children and families through foster care and adoption. In our latest blog post, she reflects on the importance of listening, building trust, and showing up for children and families every day.

Read Darlene’s story: https://blog.adoptuskids.org/outstanding-caseworker-darlene-marshall-ware/

07/11/2026

When Laurie first welcomed a child into her home in rural Alaska, she couldn’t have imagined how that one decision would grow into a lifelong commitment to children, family, and community.

Laurie and Eric Hagelman share their experience navigating foster and adoption in rural Alaska.

06/24/2026

When her nephews needed an emergency foster placement, Taylor didn’t hesitate. Years later, Kelin and Nick reflect on the support, stability, and cultural connections that helped shape their family’s story.

The AdoptUSKids profiles of hope is a series of stories highlighting youth who have experienced foster care and their adoptive families. Hear from Taylor, Kelin, and Nick who share the importance of creating a stable home and staying rooted in their culture.

06/15/2026

Each adoption story is unique. Looking back, Shania and Sahra reflect on moments of uncertainty, support, and wisdom from their journey to becoming a family:

Sahra and Shania, share a few of the moments that shaped their journey to become a family. Their story is a heartfelt reminder of the resilience, patience, and love that can guide families toward permanency.

06/03/2026

At 16 and mostly on his own, Nuamey bravely took a chance on foster care. “I thought foster care meant bouncing around from home to home, like I’d seen on TV,” he recalls. But that wasn’t the case.

Discover how trust and openness on everyone’s part helped Nuamey, Jonathan, and Katie build lasting family connections:

AdoptUSKids profiles of hope is a series of stories highlighting youth who have experienced foster care and their adoptive families. Hear from Jonathan and Nuamey as they reflect on their journey to becoming a family.