All the news that is relevant for our small community.
Between Families – May 2022
May is National Foster Care Month It is a month during which the community is reminded of this largely silent population that lives hiding in plain sight. Why May?May is the fifth month of our calendar. It hides right in the calendar, much like foster families live right in our communities but are often unseen….
Between Families – April 2022
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month Child abuse can exist in multiple forms, such as sexual, emotional and neglect. An estimated one in seven children have experienced child abuse or neglect in the past year alone. Of the cases, 78 percent included the parent as being involved in the substantiated abuse. In 2019, nearly 2,000…
Between Families – March 2022
Important and Influential Leaders in Child Welfare As we wrap up February’s Black History Month and roll into March’s Women’s History Month and National Social Work Month, we’d like to reflect on the history of influential Black women leaders with a connection to child welfare. Here are two amazing women who deserve to be celebrated!…
Between Families – February 2022
February is Black History Month! February is Black History Month in the United States, which is also referred to as African American History Month. Black History Month is a time of remembrance of Black history and a celebration of Black achievement. While the foundations for Black History Month were laid as early as the 1920s,…
Between Families – January 2022
Ten New Year’s Resolutions for Foster Parents As we look ahead to a new year, this is a great time to reflect on how we’ve parented both biological and foster children. Parenting children with special needs is a challenge, but often it’s the little things that lead to our biggest successes. Below are some realistic…
Between Families – December 2021
Home for the Holidays Christmas is a wonderful time of year but can be a challenging time for youth in foster care. Here are four things every child in care needs this holiday season: 1. The opportunity to share his or her own traditions, and create new ones. Experiencing familiar traditions can be comforting for…
Between Families – November 2021
Quality Parenting Initiative TFI is excited to announce that we have recently partnered with the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) and are currently training our staff on QPI values, theory and techniques. QPI is a process to strengthen foster care and improve permanency and well-being for children by shifting systems away from a bureaucracy and toward…
Between Families – October 2021
Happy (Socially-Distanced) Halloween! It’s October and fall is finally in the air after a long, hot summer. While last year’s Halloween did not involve much Trick-or-Treating due to COVID-19, this year there is hope that your children will be able to ring doorbells, say Boo, and get some treats. Here are a few tips for…
Between Families – September 2021
Creating a Safe & Open Home Environment The need to feel secure and stable at home is important to everyone, but children especially need to feel this. Having a place where they are physically, socially, and emotionally secure is imperative for healthy development and a successful future. Children who feel a connection with their caretakers…
Between Families – August 2021
Back to School Just like that Summer is nearly over!Here are some helpful tips to help prepare foster children for their return to school. Oklahoma Care Provider of the Month Blair and Morgan Wilkinson have been fostering with TFI for more than a year and have had multiple siblings placed in their home. They go above…
Between Families – July 2021
Heat Safety Awareness During the summer months, a child left in a hot car can die of heatstroke very quickly. Dozens of U.S. children lose their lives this way each year, but these tragedies can be prevented. Here is what parents need to know about the danger of hot cars, and steps they can take…
Between Families – June 2021
Summer Fun! June is upon us! Fun in the sun! Vacations! No school! Travel! Where will you go? What will you do? You have the entire summer in front of you to explore, bond with your family and work towards a much-needed return to normalcy. Most of us are asking ourselves – what does, “normal”…
Between Families – May 2021
National Foster Care Month Started in 1988, The U.S. government has issued annual proclamations in recognition of National Foster Care Month, celebrated in May, to show appreciation and gratitude to foster parents across the nation. Foster care intends to provide a safe environment for children and youth who temporarily cannot live with their families. Foster care…
Between Families – April 2021
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month Child abuse can exist in multiple forms: sexual, emotional, and neglect. In the past year, it’s estimated 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse or neglect in the past year. Of the cases, 78 percent included the parent as being involved in the substantiated abuse. In 2019,…
Between Families – March 2021
Spring is Around the Corner! The long, cold days of winter are soon going to be gone (we hope), and spring is in the air. There’s nothing quite like enjoying the first warm day of the season or seeing the early flowers poking up through the ground. Especially this season with the cold weather and…