New Website Launch!

In the past few months the Louisiana Fosters section of the First Lady’s Blog has focused of how to help the foster care community during these unprecedented times. When emergencies happen, we push through and become resilient to protect and take care of our families. However, for children in the foster care system the plague of instability and uncertainty is an everyday challenge. When the added stress of a pandemic is inflicted on this already vulnerable population it is even more crucial for our communities to rise up and provide a safety net for these kiddos in need and distress. It is not lost on us the tremendous needs for a community hub to provide up to date and accurate information on organizations that are available and on standby waiting to offer a hand to our kiddos.

Our team along with DCFS have been working to release our new Louisiana Fosters Web site that will better meet the needs of the foster care community. We are pleased to announce that our website is now live and ready to meet the needs of our partners and our foster care community. Easier access to resources and partners on an easy to read clickable map of Louisiana is the outreach tool we have been looking forward to for our Foster care community. This tool will allow anyone needing services in the Foster care arena to access, locate and utilize state-wide resources that are in place to support them in their time of need.

Everyone can do something. This motto is deeply threaded into the hearts of our team at Louisiana Fosters. At the top of the new site you will see a tab that says “I AM A” this tab is there to identify community members who want to help but may not know what they can do or how they can help. From donating a gift card, to becoming a foster family, your role makes a difference in the lives of foster care children every day. Nothing you do is insignificant. The phrase “every little bit helps” may seem cliché, but has never been truer for this population. Did you know that one $50.00 gift card could provide a device for these kids to have access to much needed tele-health and tele-mental health they so desperately need?

There are many things to overlook while we strive to travel less and stay home more, but taking care of these kiddos isn’t one of them. Drawing from my deep faith and love for Jesus I have to believe what the bible tells us:

 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? James 2: 15-16

 Learn to do what is good.
Pursue justice.
Correct the oppressor
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow’s cause.

Isaiah 1:17

This is the true heart of LA Fosters – to help and love the children in the foster care system. We hope the launch of this site will help this race we are running. We hope you find a way to give to this community in your own and unique way. Take a look at the site and let us know what you think! Stay healthy Louisiana!

Sincerely,
Katie McElveen
Director
Louisiana Fosters