Amber Knowles, Author at The Riverside Project Page 3 of 3

Every week, we get to see people invest their time, energy, resources, and care all along the River. They give of themselves. They care deeply. They show up again and again.

Former foster youth face many challenges when it comes to education and just 4% of them will go on to obtain a four-year college degree. As a former foster youth herself, Dr. Danisha Keating shares the challenges she faced, her struggle to overcome trauma, and what we can do to support former foster youth today.

If you are currently a foster parent or are considering pursuing this role, here are 8 vital reminders to keep close to your heart as you navigate this journey…

We’re really glad to have Krista Kesseler here to shed some like on the topic of serving youth through international foster care. Krista is the Community Outreach Specialist for the St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care Program.

We each have a role to play and should not be doing the same thing. This is why it is important to take the next step to find your place (or places) along the River, assessing your unique skills, talents, passion, and resources.

In this episode, Jennifer Clifford shares her journey becoming a foster parent and the lessons she learned, the realities of reunification, and how they transitioned to becoming adoptive parents.

The Response Network is how we practically meet the needs of vulnerable families in Houston. This is done by mobilizing our network of churches, foster closets, nonprofits, and other community partners to meet submitted needs.

If you are considering getting involved, it’s valuable to understand more about what is currently happening in relation to foster care in Houston.

Luevenia Chapman is the co-founder and Program Director for Hearts with Hope Foundation, a local general residential operation (GRO) that provides treatment services for girls ages 7-23.