you are needed

We hope the film inspired you to join us in supporting foster and adoptive families within our communities while also helping recruit more families to provide a safe, loving home to foster children.

As faith leaders in our state, your leadership and influence can make a difference. We need your help. We’d suggest the following ideas:

• Worship Bulletin Inserts
  • Order Inserts | Print
• Invite foster parents, former foster youth, adoptive parents and/or foster/adoption advocates to share their stories during worship, within small groups, etc.
• Consider a worship message that will call to action the need for more foster families in our state.
  • There are more than 1,500 South Dakota youth who need a safe home to stay while their families work to reunify. There are about 800 registered foster families. Foster parents don’t just support the kids; they support families.
• Consider joining our partners at South Dakota Kids Belong in becoming a foster friendly faith community or providing WRAP services to support and retain foster families. WRAP services consist of words of encouragement, respite, acts of service and prayer. 
• Refer potential foster and/or adoptive families.
  • If there are families you think would be great, we would encourage you to tell them that. Sometimes all someone needs is a little encouragement.

There are so many ways to support children and families

• Become or nominate a foster friendly business
• Become a foster friendly business ambassador for your community
• Help "wrap around" families in your community
• Give to a foster closet or family support in your area
• Consider programs in your area that support youth
• Support a family in crisis
• Support a Foster Parent Association
• Host a recruitment event in your community
  • Western SD contact Andrea Hemeyer at Andrea.Hemeyer@state.sd.us
  • Central/Eastern SD contact Jennifer Mueller at Jennifer.Mueller@state.sd.us.
• Volunteer opportunities to support youth and families
• Recruitment script for foster parents
• What to expect when becoming a foster parent

Stronger Families Together Publications

• Myths and Facts Flyer | Native American Theme
• Realities Flyer | Native American Theme
• Brochure | Native American Theme