FOSTER & ADOPTIVE PARENT ADVOCACY CENTER

Imagine getting a call at 3am asking if you can take two young brothers into your home immediately, and they arrive with no belongings, no clothing except what they're wearing. You have to figure out how to get them what they need, get them to school, and get them the medications they need.

Could you do it? Would you?

Most of us can't, or don't.

Thankfully there are hundreds of individuals and families in DC and Maryland who are willing to open their homes, give their hearts, and use their intellectual and financial resources to help the most vulnerable children in our community find stability and give them the opportunity to thrive.

The Foster and Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center exists to help heal children by empowering families. We support these foster parents so they can best care for children and we work behind the scenes with DC's Child and Family Services Agency to improve the child welfare system so life will be better for all of our children.

Dealing with a teenager who's not allowed to be left alone but is suspended often, putting you at risk of losing your job because you have to stay home to supervise him.

Raising a three-year-old who has been kicked out of every preschool in your neighborhood. The only place that will take her is across the city from your job and your home and you can’t get her there and get to work on time.

These are just some of the challenges foster parents face when they commit to caring for the most vulnerable children in our community—children who belong to all of us.

Everyone in our community—including our healthy, stable, and loving families and individuals—can play a critical role in caring for the children and families we serve. Even if you can't be a foster parent yourself, you can support those who make the commitment and sacrifice to help children in need.

Foster parents take on the complex role of working to support reunification of their foster children with birth families while at the same time emotionally nurturing and bonding with children who they may adopt or become guardians of if the children can’t return to their biological parents. Meanwhile, foster parents must provide for children nutritious food, safe housing, transportation to countless medical and educational appointments, not to mention warmth, patience, guidance, and love. All while working full-time jobs.

FAPAC provides a safe place for these families to turn for help. FAPAC

• Serves hundreds of families through referrals, guidance, and support to solve urgent problems that threaten the well-being of their children and the stability of their families.
• Trains parents to better meet the challenging and complex needs of children who have experienced severe trauma so these children can thrive
• Partners with government and private foster care agencies to develop solutions to systemic problems that affect thousands of children and families

We don’t charge families for any services. As a result, we depend on the generosity of our donors, who are each extraordinarily valuable in sustaining our work.

FAPAC understands how important it is to care for all of our children. Please join us in our work to ensure that DC’s most vulnerable children have the opportunity to thrive.

Keep up with FAPAC on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Foster-and-Adoptive-Parent-Advocacy-Center-FAPAC/165652643458313!

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