Foster Parenting

Websites

All resource (foster) parents are welcome to use ORPARC's library, attend ORPARC trainings and search our support group list free of charge.

Oregon Foster Parent Bill of Rights

Oregon-Local Specific Sites

• Learn about fostering through Oregon DHS
  • Oregon DHS Offices
• Oregon DHS Resource & Relative Parent Training
  • Ongoing Live Online Trainings
• 211 Info Foster Parent Support Line - dial 211 or 1-866-698-6155
• Embrace Oregon
• Every Child Oregon - serving every county in Oregon!
• Every Step through Health Share - tri-county area clinics provided family centered support
• Faithful Friends PDX - church-based mentors for children ages 6-9
• Hands and Feet, Inc. - supporting foster families in Umatilla County
• KEEP Support Groups - earn stipends, meet peers, acquire skills!
• Kindred Matters - camps & retreats!
• Oregon Foster Parent Association (OFPA)
  • Central Oregon Foster Parent Association
  • Foster and Adoptive Parent Association of Lane County (FAAPA)
  • Jackson County Foster Parent Association
• Oregon Kinship Navigator
• Oregon State Parks Pass - free for foster, adoptive & guardianship parents!
• ORPARC's Oregon Foster & Adoption Resources page
• Project Lemonade - clothing & supplies for ages 5-24 including now for state guardianship youth!
• Salem Angels - love boxes, mentors and more
• Slumberkins - 10% off for Resource (Foster) Parents!
• With Love - clothing and supplies for children 0-6

National Sites

National Foster Care Month Proclamation Guide

• AdoptUSKids
• Child Welfare Information Gateway
• Foster Care Institute with Dr. John DeGarmo
• FosterClub - headquartered in Oregon
• Foster Parent College
• Fostering Families Today magazine
• NACAC
• National Foster Parent Association + Guiding Principles
• National Training & Development Curriculum - free training for parents

Recommended Books & Articles

Fostering-related Materials in ORPARC's library and DIGITAL library including No Sugar Coating: The Coffee Talk You Need About Foster Parenting by Oregon's own foster-adopt parent Jillana Goble.

ORPARC's Parenting Time: Strengthening & Preparing for Child-Parent Visits and Resource Parent Goodbyes & Grief packets, both available in ORPARC's library.

• 5 Things a Child Welfare Advocate Wants You to Know About Foster Care with Rita Sorenson by Emily Singer, Pure Wow
• Advice for Foster Parents About Going to Court by Fostering Perspectives
• Birth-Foster Family Connections by Bright Spots - explains the concept of Comfort Calls
• Birth Parent/Foster Parent Relationships to Support Family Reunification by Child Welfare Information Gateway - many assorted articles
• Building a Positive Relationship with Birth Parents by Donna Foster
• Co-Parenting or Shared Parenting (with Birth Parents) by NACAC
• Couples & Caregiving - an ORPARC Resource page
• Equipping Foster Parents to Support Reunification by AdoptUSKids
• FASD: It's Not Just the Brain by Belonging Network
• Foster Parent Resource Guide by Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Foster (Resource) Parent Resource Guide by Every Child
• Fostering a Child with Trauma by FCA, UK
• How to Support Older Youth with Foster Care Experience Through Co-Regulation by OPRE
• Making a Difference by Maintaining Connections by Donna Gillespie Foster
• My First Three Days in Foster Care & My Advice to Foster Parents by Jenna Thornberg, foster alum
• Oregon Mom of 5 Strives to Improve Lives of Foster Children featuring Jillana Goble - author in ORPARC's library
• Partnering with Birth Parents to Support Reunification Fact Sheet by the Children's Bureau
• The Qualities of a Good Foster Parent by Jerry Foxhaven, The Imprint
• Resource (Foster) Parent Grief - an entire page devoted to this topic
• Sesame Street in Communities: Foster Care - so many fun activities, videos & resources
• Simple Guide: Fostering a Child with Autism by FCA, UK
• Single Parenting - an ORPARC Resource page
• Support for Foster Parents by AdoptUSKids
• Support Relationships Between Birth and Foster Families by CHAMPS
• Talking About Adoption, Foster Care & Other Hard Things - an ORPARC Resource page
• Ten Reasons You Want to Be A Foster Parent by Bryan Hoffstetter
• Three Reasons Why Foster Parents Foster by Creating a Family
• A Tribute to Foster Parents by Fostering Perspectives
• What Makes a Good Foster Parent for Children in Need by FosterVA
• Why Foster Families Need to Build Positive Relationships with Birth Families & Part II by Many Voices, One Heart

Culturally specific

• Being Anti-Racist: A Critical Way to Support Children of Color in Foster Care & Adoption by Families Rising
• Caring for Asian Youth: Combating Misconceptions by Aileen Fullchange
• Hair Care - an ORPARC Resource page
• Talking About Race - an ORPARC Resource page
• Transracial Parenting/Cultural Diversity - an ORPARC Resource page
• Black Foster Families Share Their Inspiring Passion for Changing Children’s Lives by KVC Kansas
• Foster Mom, it’s okay to ask about Race by Maralee Bradley
• How to Show Up As a White Foster Parent in a Racist System by Just As Special
• Raising Foster Children of a Different Race: A Guide for Foster Parents by Mary Herzog
• Too Many Black Foster Kids, Not Enough Black Foster Parents by Juwan Jessup
• Tribal Resources - an ORPARC Resource Page Series

Transitions - including Transitions-related Materials in ORPARC's library and more articles on our Resource Parent Grief page

• Fox's Big Change & Change Resources by Slumberkins - authors in ORPARC's library
• Predictable Adjustments by Belonging Network
• Preparation is Key When Welcoming a Foster Child Into Your Home by Youth Dynamics
• Reverse visitation between former foster parents and adopted children by Dr. Redmond Reams - research article
• Reunification from Foster Care by Child Welfare Information Gateway
• Supporting Parent-Child Visits by Child Welfare Information Gateway - many articles!
• Supporting Timely & Successful Reunifications by Child Welfare Information Gateway
• Supporting Transitions by Beacon House
• Tips for Supporting Virtual Family Time by Child Welfare Information Gateway
• Transitioning Children in Foster Care to Adoptive Homes by Dr. Redmond Reams - research article
• Transitions by Beacon House

Blogs & Support

• Foster the Family - faith-focused
• The Resilient Caregiver by Mike & Kristen Berry - authors in ORPARC's library
• Jason Johnson - dad-focused

Videos & Podcasts

• A Place for You Song by Sesame Street - explains foster care; great for transitions of little ones! (video)
• Fostering Lauren YouTube Channel - by foster teen alum who now fosters (videos)
• Foster the Family Podcast - faith-focused
• Jeanette-ically Speaking by foster alum and adoptee Jeanette Yoffe, MFT (videos) - author in ORPARC's library
  • Foster care explained to kids in a way they'll understand - animated
  • How to explain adoption to kids? - animated
  • How to tell a child their foster care adoption story - training series
• The Resilient Caregiver Podcast by Mike & Kristin Berry - authors in ORPARC's library
• Seven Ways to be a Great Foster Parent - and more videos by Kait Isaak
• What We Wish We Had Known About Foster Care by Zero2Five Family (video)