In 2019, when my wife and I decided to show up for our first foster care informational session, alongside about fifteen other people, it didn’t feel like we were doing anything extraordinary. We weren’t changing policy. We weren’t fixing a broken system. We were simply taking a first step. A small yes.
Today, we’ve been foster parents for many years and currently find ourselves serving teenagers impacted by the child welfare system. But when people ask me what transforming the foster care system really looks like, my mind doesn’t go first to the children who have come through our home. It goes back to that initial moment — the decision to walk into that info session.
It felt small and unremarkable at the time.
But “transformation” often sounds louder than it looks.
We tend to imagine transformation as big reform or grand gestures, when in reality, it usually begins with a simple shift — a willingness to move closer.
Chip and Dan Heath say it best: “For things to change, somebody somewhere has to start acting differently.”
And maybe that somebody is you.
The foster care system will not shift if we wait for someone else to do something. It shifts when you and I decide to step toward it.
Transformation doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes it looks like opening your home. Sometimes it looks like delivering a meal, offering a ride, sitting beside someone in their grief, or supporting an organization through giving, volunteering, or leadership.
Because transformation starts with one small “yes”, here are 4 practical, tangible ways you can take that small, but crucial, first step toward your neighbors in need:
1. SHOW UP FOR CAREGIVERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SAID YES
Transformation doesn’t only happen when someone becomes a foster parent. It happens when everyday people step in to support those already carrying the weight. Bringing a meal, offering to babysit, helping with school supplies, or simply checking in consistently creates stability that keeps families whole.
If you have never opened your home to children in the child welfare system before, you may not be aware of the best ways to help yet. That’s okay! That’s why we created a guide for compassionate people like you who want to take that step closer but aren’t sure where to start.
Download 31 Creative Ways to Serve Foster and Adoptive Families here. This guide includes helpful ideas such as:
- Writing an encouraging note
- Lending a hand with transportation
- Helping cover a child’s extracurricular costs
Our team personally created this guide based on our firsthand experiences walking alongside families. It’s full of a wide variety of ideas so that you can find one that best suits what you’re able to offer. We’ve also included guidance on how to approach each act of outreach with care and respect, helping ensure your support is both meaningful and well-received.
2. SAY ‘YES’ TO PROXIMITY
I heard it said once that “Empathy makes progress possible.”
You don’t have to “fix” foster care to transform it. You simply have to move closer. And the closer we get, often the more empathetic we become. Becoming a mentor, respite provider, safe adult, or trusted friend for a child or caregiver changes outcomes because healing happens through safe, consistent connection.
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, around 40% of children in foster care experience more than two placements each year. In the midst of so much instability, the steady presence of a consistent, trusted adult can make all the difference in a young person’s life. Don’t underestimate the impact of simply showing up, again and again, for a child or teen who is navigating the child welfare system.
If you’re ready to move closer and engage with your neighbors in a tangible way, we are here to help. Through The Response Network, we serve as a bridge between individuals and organizations who want to help, and vulnerable children and families in Houston who need support.
If you’re curious about what this network looks like in action, this recent story is an incredible example of what can happen when individuals and organizations come together as one to collaborate on a solution:
Learn more about The Response Network and sign up here if you’re ready to step into stories just like this one. We can’t wait to help you find your unique place in the community by stepping in to meet needs, build relationships, and help families heal.
3. INVEST IN RELATIONAL WORK
Transformation is fueled by generosity when it’s directed toward people, not just programs. Organizations that connect families, volunteers, churches, and agencies help prevent crisis before it escalates. Financial support allows this work to happen consistently and sustainably — ensuring families receive the right help at the right time.
Giving isn’t a passive act. It’s a way of standing beside families and saying, you’re not on your own.
We are so grateful to everyone who chooses to invest in our city’s foster care community by supporting our efforts to help children heal and families thrive. Every dollar counts, and here’s a look at what your gift could help achieve:
- $100 covers 10 beds for kids and families in need
- $200 provides a relative caregiver with licensing items for their home
- $500 meets urgent needs for a family in crisis
- $1,000 covers 3 TBRI (trauma-informed) training sessions for 30+ professionals in Houston
To learn more about the direct impact your donation can make, or to give now, click here.
4. USE THE SKILLS YOU ALREADY HAVE
You don’t need new skills to make a meaningful impact.
Your existing talents can meet real, immediate needs. A hairstylist offering haircuts, a mechanic helping with car maintenance, a teacher providing tutoring, a photographer gifting family photos — these acts preserve dignity and reduce stress for families navigating an already complex system.
When you serve in the lane you already excel in, impact feels natural, not overwhelming.
You don’t have to carry the whole weight of foster care to change its story. You simply have to take one step toward something. Because for things to change, someone has to start acting differently.
Maybe it’s you.
At The Riverside Project, we believe transformation starts with people like you. People who care deeply about helping families stay strong and connected.
As we wrap up a year in which we saw so many stories of transformation, we’re inviting you to partner with us as we head into another year of service.
If you’re looking for ways to get involved, there’s a place for everyone along The River. Find yours here.
Perhaps the right role for you in this season looks like extending generosity. Our goal is to raise $125,000 by December 31 so more families involved with the child welfare system receive the support and relationships they need to thrive. A generous donor has offered a $50,000 matching gift, which means every dollar you give between now and December 31 (up to $50,000) will go twice as far.
Donate today and double your gift.
