Young people + birth parents + relative caregivers

= working together to drive change in foster care.


We are the constituents of the child welfare system. Our campaign is dedicated to ensuring the voices of those with first-hand experience are heard. 

Join the movement!

If you believe the voices of youth, birth parents, and relative caregivers must inform child welfare policies, join us! You'll receive updates about Family Voices United, including regular opportunities to share your perspective.
image show text that reads: Sometimes a parent's mental or behavioral health (including addiction) leads to a child entering foster care. What specific type of supportive services could be provided to families to better help them remain together?
Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent

Share Your Perspective: Sometimes a parent's mental or behavioral health (including addiction) leads to a child entering foster care. What specific type of supportive services could be provided to families to better help them remain together?

Family Voices United wants to hear from YOU! If you are a current or former foster youth, parent, or relative/kinship caregiver - share your voice - and you could... (Read more)

Published Apr 26, 2021

Organization/Advocate

Family Voices United Family First Peer Learning Session

On March 11th, 2021 Family Voices United held a peer learning session with parents, kinship caregivers, and foster youth alumni, on the Family First Prevention Services Act, New Opportunities in... (Read more)

Published Mar 12, 2021

image shows text that reads: what makes you hopeful this year?
Organization/Advocate

Share Your Perspective: What makes you hopeful?

Family Voices United wants to hear from YOU! If you are a current or former foster youth, parent, or relative/kinship caregiver - share your voice - and you could... (Read more)

Published Feb 23, 2021

Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate

Share Your Perspective: Discrimination in the Child Welfare System

Family Voices United wants to hear from YOU! If you are a current or former foster youth, parent, or relative/kinship caregiver - share your voice - and you could... (Read more)

Published Oct 8, 2020

Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate

Family Voices on Discrimination in the Child Welfare System

Listen as Family Voices United members share their experiences with racism and discrimination in the child welfare system, their vision of an anti-racist system. Click here to listen... (Read more)

Published Sep 22, 2020

image shows text that reads: safe and equitable school reopening for families
Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate

“What is needed to ensure school reopenings are safe and equitable for children and families who are most impacted by COVID-19?”

Family Voices United asked current and former foster youth, parents, and kinship and relative caregivers: “ What is needed to ensure school reopenings are safe and equitable for children... (Read more)

Published Sep 10, 2020

Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate

Podcast: Family Voices on School Reopening

Listen as Family Voices United members share their concerns, supports needed, and suggestions on school reopening. Click here to listen ! Podcast Features: Natalie Clark, FosterClub Young... (Read more)

Published Aug 17, 2020

What is needed to ensure school reopenings are safe
Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent

Share Your Perspective: Supports for families during school reopenings

Family Voices United wants to hear from YOU! If you are a current or former foster youth, parent, or relative/kinship caregiver - share your voice - and you could... (Read more)

Published Aug 11, 2020

image shows text that reads: transition supports for families during state reopening
Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate

“As states move towards reopening, what supports would help you and your family make that transition most successful?”

As states move towards reopening, what supports would help you and your family make that transition most successful? Family Voices United asked current and former foster youth, parents, and kinship... (Read more)

Published Jul 9, 2020

Birth Parent, Foster Parent

New Resource for Birth and Foster Parents

New Practice and Policy Tools to Improve and Encourage Birth and Foster Parent Relationships! The Children's Trust Fund Alliance is introducing two resource tools: The Birth and Foster Parent Partnership:... (Read more)

Published Jul 2, 2020

Title Constituent Role Topic Location Published
Share Your Perspective: Sometimes a parent's mental or behavioral health (including addiction) leads to a child entering foster care. What specific type of supportive services could be provided to families to better help them remain together? Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent Prevention
National
Tribal
04/26/21
Family Voices United Family First Peer Learning Session Organization/Advocate Congregate Care, Kinship, Mental Health, Older Youth, Pregnant & Parenting Youth, Prevention
National
Tribal
03/12/21
Share Your Perspective: What makes you hopeful? Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth
National
Tribal
02/23/21
Share Your Perspective: Discrimination in the Child Welfare System Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate Prevention
National
Tribal
10/08/20
Family Voices on Discrimination in the Child Welfare System Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth
National
Tribal
09/22/20
“What is needed to ensure school reopenings are safe and equitable for children and families who are most impacted by COVID-19?” Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate Kinship, Mental Health, Older Youth
National
Tribal
09/10/20
Podcast: Family Voices on School Reopening Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate Pregnant & Parenting Youth, Prevention
National
Tribal
08/17/20
Share Your Perspective: Supports for families during school reopenings Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent Pregnant & Parenting Youth, Prevention
National
Tribal
08/11/20
“As states move towards reopening, what supports would help you and your family make that transition most successful?” Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth, Prevention
National
Tribal
07/09/20
New Resource for Birth and Foster Parents Birth Parent, Foster Parent
National
Tribal
07/02/20
Family Voices United Constituent Voice Assessment Toolkit Organization/Advocate Prevention
National
Tribal
07/02/20
Podcast: Family Voices on Self-Care During a Crisis Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Organization/Advocate Prevention
National
Tribal
Florida
Iowa
Rhode Island
06/15/20
Share Your Perspective: Supports for families during COVID-19 state reopening Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate Prevention
National
Tribal
06/03/20
“When a youth leaves a foster care facility or institutional care (like a treatment center), what supports will be most helpful for them to integrate back into a family setting?” Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate Congregate Care, Prevention
National
Tribal
05/29/20
“What are the EARLY warning signs that a family might be approaching a crisis?" Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth, Prevention
National
Tribal
05/22/20
FosterClub Press Release: Young People from Foster Care Hit Hard by COVID-19, Lack Resources and Connections to Weather this Storm Youth/Alumni, Organization/Advocate Older Youth
National
05/13/20
Share Your Perspective: Crisis support for families Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth, Prevention
National
Tribal
05/05/20
Birth Parent National Network Webinars Birth Parent Mental Health
National
04/24/20
What are the ways that the COVID-19 crisis is impacting you and/or your family? Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate
National
04/14/20
Podcast: Family Voices on COVID19 Crisis Impact & Resources Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth
National
Tribal
04/06/20
FosterClub Press Release: Youth from Foster Care Thrown into Crisis During Pandemic Youth/Alumni, Organization/Advocate Older Youth
National
03/28/20
COVID-19 RESOURCES & GUIDANCE Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth, Prevention
National
Tribal
03/27/20
Share your perspective: What are the ways that the COVID-19 crisis is impacting you and/or your family? Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth, Prevention
National
Tribal
03/26/20
What do attorneys representing families in court proceedings need to know to keep families together? Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver
National
03/20/20
What's needed to help relative caregivers navigate supports and services for the children they are raising? Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Organization/Advocate Kinship
National
03/05/20
Share Your Perspective: Supporting young people and families involved in juvenile justice and child welfare Organization/Advocate Older Youth
National
Tribal
02/26/20
Share Your Perspective: Parent Partners Organization/Advocate
National
Tribal
02/06/20
Podcast: Family Voices on Constituent Engagement Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver
National
Tribal
Arizona
Texas
01/05/20
Podcast: Family Voices on Strengthening Families & Keeping Kids out of Foster Care Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver Kinship, Mental Health, Older Youth, Prevention
National
New York
Pennsylvania
01/03/20
Podcast: Family Voices on Legal Representation for Families Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth, Prevention
National
11/11/19
Podcast: Family Voices on Supporting Kinship Families Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver Kinship
National
Tribal
10/30/19
Administration Issues Memo Regarding Constituent Voice Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent, Organization/Advocate
National
10/07/19
Share Your Perspective through the Family Voices United Campaign! Organization/Advocate Congregate Care
National
09/19/19
Ohio Grandparent Advocates for Fellow Grandparents Kinship Caregiver Kinship
Ohio
08/12/19
Share your perspective through the Family Voices United campaign! Organization/Advocate Prevention
National
07/31/19
Family Voices United - A Podcast on Mental Health Supports Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver Mental Health
National
06/26/19
Family Voices on Mental Health Supports Birth Parent, Youth/Alumni, Kinship Caregiver Mental Health
National
06/26/19
Share your perspective through the Family Voices United campaign! Organization/Advocate Prevention
National
05/28/19
Join us for a Podcast Production on Mental Health Supports May 29th at 5pm (ET) Organization/Advocate Mental Health
National
05/24/19
From being served by the system to influencing it: Rynn Bell helps human services agencies reshape how they provide services Birth Parent Pregnant & Parenting Youth
Colorado
05/16/19
"...The more support relative caregivers receive, the more likely relatives will step up to care for their family members. This will help to lower the number of foster homes needed and decrease the number of children in foster care..." Youth/Alumni Kinship
Washington
05/07/19
"...Apply wrap-around care that coordinates efforts from one location for all available services and resources with attention given to specific needs and circumstances..." Birth Parent Kinship
South Carolina
04/30/19
"...Be willing to go above and beyond your duties to assist caregivers goes a long way - helping them fill out applications and connecting them directly to a resource rather than just handing them a pamphlet helps to make referrals successful..." Organization/Advocate Kinship
Utah
04/29/19
Family Voices United wants to hear from YOU! Organization/Advocate 04/15/19
"As a grandmother raising a baby, I wanted to connect with other relative caregivers in similar situations. There wasn't a resource, so I started the local Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group." Kinship Caregiver Kinship 04/12/19
"...I would have liked them to go through a training to understand their role for me and understand the trauma I was still experiencing, instead of them telling me I should be grateful to be with them instead of a "random family"..." Youth/Alumni Kinship 04/10/19
Family Voices United member, Tecoria Jones, spoke at South Carolina's Kinship Day at the Capitol Kinship Caregiver Kinship
South Carolina
04/10/19
"...A contact person for every family - to answer the caregivers' questions about how to navigate the system and be able to share what services are and aren't available..." Kinship Caregiver Kinship
Alaska
04/10/19
"I would like to see more opportunities for kinship and foster families (parents and kids) to connect. It's most helpful to learn about resources from peers that have been through it." Kinship Caregiver Kinship
Kansas
03/30/19
Colorado engages constituents in Family First Prevention Services Act planning! Organization/Advocate Kinship, Older Youth
Colorado
03/15/19

QUESTION OF THE MONTH:

 Sometimes a parent's mental or behavioral health (including addiction) leads to a child entering foster care. What specific type of supportive services could be provided to families to better help them remain together?


*Submit by May 9th for a chance to win $50!

If you are a current or former foster youth, a birth parent, a kinship or relative caregiver, or a foster or adoptive parent, share your perspective with Family Voices United... Your story could be featured on the Campaign!

Share your voice

Help Spread the Word!

Know a youth or alumni of foster care who would want to get involved? How about a birth parent or relative caregiver that is interested in advocacy? Download and share the Family Voices United recruitment flyer.

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