MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR KIDS

Speak Up for Kids directly addresses the needs of our foster youth.

Embrace Kids, is based on the concept of belonging and inclusion. It exists to lessen or remove financial and emotional barriers that hinder a child's ability to thrive. We normalize the lives of children in foster care so they too can enjoy the benefits of being a child and being included.

Embrace Kids helps foster children by providing them with access to extracurricular activities and specialized services. Many foster children lack the resources or support they need to participate in these activities, which can be critical for their development and well-being. Embrace Kids helps to remove these barriers, providing funding for sports equipment, music lessons, therapy, and other needs that foster children may have. This not only helps to support their development but also helps to normalize their lives and ensure that they have the same opportunities as their peers.

Caregivers, sign up below for our mailing list & get a heads-up when we have events and giveaway opportunities

This program is built around the concept of belonging and inclusion, recognizing that these are essential components in helping children feel valued and supported.

CAREGIVERS OF

FOSTER KIDS 

Sign up for our mailing list & get a heads-up when we have events and giveaway opportunities.

Embrace Kids exists to lessen or remove financial barriers that hinder a child’s ability to thrive and to provide normalcy to our kids.

  • Through no fault of their own, and for their own safety, children involved in dependency and foster care have been removed from their families of origin, placed with another family, and are oftentimes dependent on strangers for their care and well-being. Normalcy supports the needs and desires of these children to live their best lives – even during the most difficult and transient times.

    “To be normal is to be a typical youth. To be normal is to have limited barriers like the non-foster care youth you sit next to in class.”

    – Ashley – Former Foster Youth

  • Decades-long feedback from foster-involved youth emphasizes the abnormalities of their lived experiences as compared to their peers not involved in care. Self-identified needs include a sense of belonging and identity outside of their ‘foster kid’ label and access to extended family and the freedom to continue to foster or build those relationships.

    “Normalcy means not being singled out and labeled as a ‘foster youth’ or having the label of ‘troubled teen’ attached to you.” 

    — Crystal – Former Foster Youth

  • They also want ‘normal’ experiences such as participation in extracurricular activities, sleepovers, hanging out with friends, and birthday and milestone celebrations.

    “My whole life, I just wanted to be normal. Personally, I’ve never been to a homecoming dance or a prom dance.”

    — Brianna – Former Foster Youth

Embrace Kids events for Foster Kids and caregivers

  • Winterfest is a complimentary private event for foster youth and their caregivers includes a full carnival for all ages, interactive craft stations, food, music, face painting, activities, and a visit from Santa Claus and Christmas Belle!

    "I spend most of the holiday season shedding tears of joy. Experiencing the outpouring of love from our community and watching kids' faces light up are two of my favorite things. The day is amazing."

    — Coleen LaCosta — Executive Director

  • Storybook Village where storybooks come to life! This themed event contains approximately 25 StoryBook Booths offered by Speak Up For Kids + STUDENTS Speak Up For Kids, Office of Guardian ad Litem, foster agencies, child service agencies, young children educational agencies, literary organizations and others. Approximately 2,000 books are available for adoption. The event partners with Mounts Botanical Gardens and has face painting, photo ops, stories, activities and other exciting happenings.

    “The children we serve have experienced some of the worst types of trauma imaginable. When a child victim of abuse gets to forget their circumstances and feel normal — even for just one day — that ignites a spark of hope. We are thrilled that the Mounts Botanical Garden recognizes the importance and allows us to bring the community together and multiplies that hope.”

    — Scott Penney – Board President

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