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It’s not hard to imagine all the benefits to the children in our care when we have good co-parenting relationships with their birth parents. However, what can be challenging is knowing how to build those relationships. In the No Matter What video, Everyone has a Story, foster parents Eric and Sarah lay out a simple but powerful blueprint for opening the door to healing: embracing the child and the whole family.
As Sarah puts it, “We wanted to show the families that we are there for them … that we care about them and want to help them and be that support.” They recognize how crucial it is to feel that someone is in your corner at an extremely difficult time. Eric points out that taking the time to get to know families and have compassion for their struggles “breaks down walls.” You cannot help but be moved and inspired by their hope that extending love and compassion to the whole family will be enough to give parents the courage to create change.
Recommended Resources:
From the Champion Classrooms
- Foster Parents Supporting Birth Parents: Considerations for Success
- Let’s Talk: Partnering With Birth Parents
- Working in Partnership With Birth Parents
Tip Sheets
- Shared Parenting: Putting the Needs of Children First
- Setting Healthy Boundaries Between Birth and Foster Families
From the Lending Library
