 | Hope grows here… Family Alternatives is a trauma infused, youth driven agency that embraces the collaboration between youth and their supports in caring foster homes. Founded in 1978 by foster parents, Family Alternatives emerged to enhance relationships, advocate for services and support the development of youth in the foster care system. Family Alternatives supports youth in their development by providing nurturing family environments. Through guidance, nurturing and mentorship, Family Alternatives strives to create and develop relationships with children, which extend beyond foster care. |
Fostering families
Fostering youth
Fostering communities
"You have to be able to hear them - we don’t always. There’s all kinds of white noise going on all the time. But I try really hard to stay hands off. The floor is yours. Tell me what you need to say."
– Family Alternatives Foster Parent of 11 Years
"You taught me it doesn't matter where I came from, you will always be my family."
– 10 Year Old in Foster Care with Family Alternatives
"There have been kids that came in and out of foster care in their home over the years I've lived there. Everyone is treated the same and you feel like you are a part of a real family. I do not feel like I am in foster care. I feel like I am their kid."
– 17 Year Old in Foster Care with Family Alternatives
"FA listens to kids. We include them in decisions on their plan, we implement their ideas on programming and we provide activities for them to have fun together. We don’t just hear them, we listen to them."
– Retired Family Alternatives Executive Director of 33 Years
"I'd always valued parenting but I came out of this with a profound sense that parenting is a privilege."
– Family Alternatives Foster Parent of 9 years
"To be patient. To be a little bit more understanding. To be not so rushed to get them to trust you and all this. Because they’re not going to do that right away. They’re just not."
– Family Alternatives Foster Parent of 8 Years
"My job is to keep you safe. To let you know you have value. To let you know that you are lovable. Because a lot of kids come through with that in question. It’s not because somebody told them that they weren’t. It’s because they’re here."
– Family Alternatives Foster Parent of 4 Years
"You taught me that I am not a foster kid. I am a grandkid. And that it doesn't matter where we came from, it matters the most that we are loved."
– 8 Year Old in Foster Care with Family Alternatives
"The opportunity to support the dedicated staff, inspirational foster parents and the courageous youth, makes our job extremely satisfying. We continuously learn from all involved in the organization and pursue all avenues to create a healthy, creative and progressive environment for the organization. It is a privilege to be associated with Family Alternatives. "
– Family Alternatives Board Member
"Even though we don't have a dad cause he died, you were like a dad to us and a grandfather."
– 9 Year Old in Foster Care with Family Alternatives
"I keep doing it because, as much as when the kids are with me, you don’t feel like you’re making a difference, but . . . when they leave and you see, like my kids that are adults and have children of their own. I am so proud of them."
– Family Alternatives Foster Parent of 7 Years