Project ACE

05/31/2026

05/31/2026

While in high school, Ella Bat-Ami's experience in Tennessee foster care drove her to draft mock legislation that was the impetus for the state's Foster Youth Bill of Rights.

05/23/2026

Update: this was quickly sponsored. We are so grateful 💚🖤 and excited to help. It truly takes a village.

05/22/2026

Hello Project ACE family! Urgent request for a quick $60 sponsorship!

A foster family we work with who is caring for a sibling group, keeping them together reached out to us needing help as their DRYER just broke.

We have a community partner who has found a dryer for $60 and can get it installed, and we want to cover it for the family, can you help us?

Just a bit of backstory- larger sibling groups like this one too often get split up due to the strain additional mouths to feed and properly care for can add on a foster placement… so it is SO important we support families who take this on and keep children together.

Thank you in advance!

05/14/2026

I woke up today and got ready like any other day, looking forward to a United Way luncheon in Lakeland.

I did NOT expect, by any means, to receive an award today.

To be honored as the United Way of Central Florida’s 2026 Difference Maker- an award in honor of Kayla Harris, a difference maker herself, right here from Highlands County… there are no words. Thank you.

Props to Tracy, my friend, mentor, best former boss ever etc etc etc for keeping me completely blindsided and in the dark on this- I had NO IDEA as you can tell by my mid bite reaction 😭😂

Here’s to many more hours, days, 3am nights, weeks, months, and years of working to support the next generations of youth in foster care. Here’s to always pushing the needle forward.

Thank you to everyone who is in my corner, this award goes to all of you too. I couldn’t do any of this without the people I am lucky enough to have in my life, inspiring and supporting my crazy ideas 💚🖤

“You’re not defined by what you’ve been though, you’re defined by how you rise above it”

05/13/2026

Our community is wonderful! This will be the THIRD Hop Into Action that Heartland Food Bank has helped supported, going into 2027. We have such a great head start on next year already thanks to our community partners 🖤💚

05/13/2026

There’s a powerful bridge between the month we’ve just finished and the one we’re beginning. As we move from National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April into National Foster Care Awareness Month this May, we’re reminded that every child’s story is woven into the strength of our community.

In this deeply moving episode of Fostering Conversation, we are honored to be joined by Rebecca Shetler Fast, the President and CEO of CAPS Elkhart.

We’re diving into the heart of the matter: How do we support families before a crisis happens? And how do we wrap our arms around the youth who are already navigating the foster care system? Rebecca brings such wisdom and passion to the undeniable link between our missions.

It’s a conversation about hope, resilience, and the heartfelt belief that no family should ever have to walk their path alone.

✨ Listen & Connect
Whether you’re a foster parent, a dedicated advocate, or someone who simply cares about the future of our kids, this episode is for you.

Visit our home base: Catch the latest updates and resources at welcomehomeyouth.org/stay-connected

On the go: Subscribe to Fostering Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Let’s turn awareness into action. 🏠❤️