Make A Difference Blog Archives by Date Blog
Joseph and Rachel Lowe have been licensed for less than a year and within their first week of fostering they received their first placement of twin toddlers. From the very beginning they made contact with the children’s birth family to set up communication and visitation. They treat the boys as if they are their own and they take them with them on all of their family vacations.
Natalie started her fostering journey back in March 2021. She shares, "My reason for fostering goes back to being raised by a single, wheelchair bound warrior of a mother. She could have given me up, but she raised me from that chair very well. I grew up with her fostering relationships on my behalf to make sure all of my needs were met."
In 2019, the Buzzella Family started their foster care journey and they have been instrumental in strengthening the bonds of a separated sibling group.
It's Reunification Month, we're celebrating the efforts of our child welfare professionals, foster families and community members that help support the reunification of families.
In the last ten[+] years, Heartland for Children has established strong community partnerships and effective programs that have positively impacted our tri-county area. Under their leadership, child abuse has decreased. This change has been a result of strong commitment to prevention and evidence based programs. Additionally, their focus on trauma focused care has made a tremendous impact on children and families that have experienced abuse, neglect, and out of home placements. Heartland for Children is the model of community based care for our state.
As a social worker who was involved in the transition to this model of care in our state, I fully support and endorse their continued work and leadership in Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties.
Mary Jo Plews - Former Executive Director, Healthy Start Coalition