Becoming a foster parent with Amara involves going through our home study process. In this episode, we'll talk more in depth about what that actually means. We'll start by exploring why a home study is even needed. Why does the state need so much information about me and my family to become foster parents? What is the point of this long process?

We'll also talk about the various components of the home study, including the types of information gathered and the topics you can expect to encounter during a home study process. Finally, we'll explain how Amara’s home study process works and the steps to complete it through our agency.

Learn more at www.amarafamily.org/become-a-foster-parent.

Finding THE Homecoming Dress - Partnering with Ali's Prom Project by Amara

The first few days of foster care are a time of great adjustment for everyone involved. There can be big feelings for both foster parents and children and youth. In this episode, we explore what those first few days feel like. Join us as we talk with former foster parents Paul & Joe about their memories of those first few days, as well as Kristen, an Amara foster care specialist, and Katie who shares ideas about supporting foster families during the first few days - even if you can't be a foster parent yourself!

June is National Reunification Month! At Amara, we help our foster parents support family reunification, as we know this is the best outcome for children when it is safe to do so. Listen in as we talk with Amara's Associate Director of Foster Care and three Amara foster families about the importance, joy, and struggle of experiencing reunification.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month and we're excited to tell you about Fostering Family, a new collaborative initiative launching this month to raise awareness and increase support for kids and families experience foster care. Listen in as we talk with Fostering Family Manager, Katie Ferguson about this important new initiative!

Listen in to a few of our amazing social workers and how they are affecting the lives of children in foster care. Kari Hanson hosts with Amara Foster Care Specialist Jennifer Wheeler, Kristen Wilson and Ryan Karnoski.

Amara's Development Manager, Carrie Bassett, and Director of Children Services, Ross Hiranaga, join Amara's Outreach Specialist, Caroline Brandau, in a discussion about giving donations at the end of the year. We talk about how donations are helpful in specific situations, what to give, what not to give, how to get the whole family involved in philanthropic giving and what end of the year donations mean to many nonprofits.

Link to Amara's Amazon wishlist for the Emergency Sanctuaries: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3F12AZV0YPJH1/ref=topnav_lists_1

Listen in as Amara staff who are part of the LGBTQ+ community talk about their experience being foster parents, Amara's involvement in Seattle's Pride Parade and advice for those in the LGBTQ+ community who are interested in becoming foster parents.

Join us this week to hear a story of Emily from Amara's King County Emergency Sanctuary using her love of music to connect and comfort a child in care.

KUOW recorded audio from the "Ask a Foster Parent" event hosted at Amara's Seattle office. For more information, please see KUOW's website: http://kuow.org/post/would-you-foster-child-one-parent-it-s-best-thing-i-ve-ever-done