Foster Village Charlotte Impact Report 2023

F O ST E R V I L L AG E C H A R LOT T E C A S E F O R S U P P O R T & I M PA C T R E P O R T

CHILDREN DESERVE

COMMUNITY BEYOND THE SYSTEM W W W. F O S T E R V I L L AG E C H A R LO T T E .O R G

A LETTER FROM OUR B OA R D P R E S I D E N T Dear Village Supporters, I am pleased to present the annual report for Foster Village Charlotte, outlining the critical work and impact we have made in our mission to support and strengthen foster families in our community. These accomplishments are a testament to the unwavering commitment of our dedicated staff, board, donors, and volunteers. We are dedicated to our mission to create a connection with dignity for children and families experiencing foster care by meeting urgent needs, providing educational and emotional support, and advocating as a collective community voice for children.

I am so grateful to each of you for your dedication, commitment, and unwavering support in achieving our goals. Over the past year, Foster Village Charlotte has continued to evolve and expand our services to meet the growing needs of our foster community. As our state continues to navigate multiple child welfare crises and changes, our programs at Foster Village Charlotte continue to set the highest standard for the care of our children and the community’s role in understanding and improving the child welfare system.

Foster Village Charlotte has expanded our family support programs, including parent training workshops and support groups, reaching more families and focusing on reunification with first families and kinship caregivers. Our Connection Cottage has hosted over 100 visits with first families, birthday celebrations, and sibling visits. We have also strengthened our community partnerships to provide more resources to foster families and deepen the impact we have in our community with welcome packs, tangible resources, and ongoing support. Lastly, we leaned into awareness and advocacy by developing additional workshops to help prospective foster families find the bridge into foster care and actively engaged in advocacy efforts at the local and state levels to bring about positive changes in the foster care system.

Looking ahead, our focus remains on serving our community's most vulnerable children (and families), ensuring they have the support and resources needed to thrive. As we enter the next year, we look to deepen our partnerships and programs and continue to create positive and lasting impact for children and families. Our 3-year strategic plan revolves around addressing growth and sustainability, focusing on expanding our physical space, developing strong partnerships for growth, and elevating our organizational structure. As we look on the horizon of all that is possible, we are reminded of the power of this village.

Thank YOU for being part of this village. I look forward to another year of positively impacting the lives of foster children and their families together.

Villaging well,

Sloan Crawford

Foster Village Charlotte Board President FOSTER VI LLAGE CHA R LOTTE I MPACT REPORT | 02

WHY WE CARE

50%

At least

of licensed foster homes stop fostering after their first placement

of foster youth suffer from mental health issues such as PTSD and depression

OV E R

OV E R

80%

11,000

520

30%

children in foster care in North Carolina (88% neglect, 12% abuse)

children in foster care in Mecklenburg Country

of children in foster care in Mecklenburg County are separated from at least one sibling

Federal data show the number of licensed foster care homes in the state dropped

23%

from 2021 to 2022.

The stakes are higher than ever for Foster Village Charlotte to support new and existing foster homes and to be leaders in advocating for foster care reform.

FOSTER VI LLAGE CHA R LOTTE I MPACT REPORT | 03

FOSTER VILLAGE CHARLOTTE

2 0 2 3 I M PA C T Strengthening the families and systems that surround a child experiencing foster care leads to a resilient next generation that breaks the cycle of childhood adversity. Together with a village of support, Foster Village Charlotte's programs are transformational rather than transactional.

2023 OVERALL I MPACT

664 children served across all programs

358 families served across all programs

CAR EG I VE R SUP P OR T groups, gatherings, and 78 support workshops hosted

212 hours of direct one-on-one support 100%

of caregivers cited an increase in emotional support by participating in peer-driven and one-on-one support

P R OJ EC T SOOT HE

185 sensory tools provided children frequently used tools 85% of provided

100%

of caregivers increased their knowledge of strategies and routines for sensory regulations

WELCO ME PACKS

235 welcome packs delivered needs met within 48 hours of 100% of contact

caregivers cited a decrease in 100% of transitional stress

PARTNERS I N PERMAN EN CY at the Connection 130 experiences Cottage

usage by social workers 96% recurring and families working to reunify

100%

of social workers cited an increase in positive engagement with their families as a result of using the Connection Cottage for visits

FOSTER VI LLAGE CHA R LOTTE I MPACT REPORT | 04

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT:

CONNECTION COTTAGE In 2022, Foster Village Charlotte expanded to two centers, allowing us to create the multi-use Connection Cottage, a trauma-informed and inviting home-like environment that creates a dignified space for children and families.

It's a place where children go to be with volunteers when foster and kinship parents are in a Foster Village Charlotte support group.

It's where a child visits their sibling separated in another foster home.

It's where we welcome parents to visit with their children while working to reunify.

It's where we have witnessed profound joy, connection, comfort, and dignity.

Joy

Connection

Comfort

Dignity

for children to play, jump, and belly laugh.

where caregivers share challenges and encouragement.

with family members sharing tender embraces and sacred memories.

to move away from despair and toward empathy-fueled change in the foster care system.

Scan here for a short video recap of the Connection Cottage!

FOSTER VI LLAGE CHA R LOTTE I MPACT REPORT | 05

T H O U G H W E H AV E A C C O M P L I S H E D S O M U C H , O U R WO R K I S N OT Y E T D O N E . . .

Your generosity will change the future of an entire population of vulnerable children. Children in foster care are bright, capable, and strong. But their caregivers can’t do it alone. They need to be assured that someone is advocating on their behalf and working with them to create a personal support system that will sustain them through the ups and downs of foster care. We need to care for the caregivers so they can keep going. While we do that work, we need to also ensure we provide additional home-like enivornments for families working hard to reunify so they can connect and strengthen their resiliency.

When you partner with Foster Village Charlotte, you directly: 1. Equip foster families, kinship caregivers, and reunifying families with necessities and resources, such as Welcome Packs, car seats, and sensory tools, so they can focus on helping the children in their care thrive.

2. Connect more parents through educational and emotional support, such as support groups, one-on-one calls, workshops, mentorship, therapy, and family gatherings to strengthen and empower foster parents and kinship caregivers to continue fostering.

3. Advocate for additional sacred spaces for first family visitations, tangible support during reunification, and ongoing, committed relationships between parents and foster parents, bringing dignity to the children and families we serve.

Fundraising Operations

Grants

9%

12%

12% 26 % 79 % Programs

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Corporations & Sponsorships

62 % Individuals

OV ERA LL R EV ENUE FOSTER VI LLAGE CHA R LOTTE I MPACT REPORT | 06

B U I L D I N G C A PA C I T Y T O G E T H E R Foster Village Charlotte knows that if we are not making pathways for reunifying families to have access to ongoing support and are not sustaining and retaining quality homes (including foster, kinship, and adoptive families), we are simply continuing a dysfunctional cycle. We are not an organization driven by short-term, quick fixes; we are driven by the hope of seeing families overcome cycles of adversity for generations to come. Breaking cycles takes time and thinking outside of the box.

Building and sustaining families who can care for children from hard places is the best way out of this crisis. These families will need Foster Village Charlotte to increase their team to support these outcomes, which requires the community’s support.

Your generous and compassionate gifts equip Foster Village to accomplish our mission as we ...

... bridge the gap and become the village that meets practical needs and provides holistic support for those experiencing foster care ...

... help break cycles of adversity, transform generations, advocate for system reform, and forever change communities ...

... create a ripple effect of change for children who deserve a village beyond the system.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! FOSTER VI LLAGE CHA R LOTTE I MPACT REPORT | 07

WAY S YO U C A N G I V E PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR EMPLOYER TO SEE IF THEY MATCH DONATIONS IRS TAX ID # 82-4729146

BY DONOR ADVISED FUND OR CHARITABLE STOCK DONATIONS Email info@fostervillagecharlotte.org with questions.

BY MAIL P.O. Box 77672 Charlotte, NC 28271

ONLINE One-Time Gift www.fostervillagecharlotte.org/donate

The Village Partner Community (Monthly Gift) www.fostervillagecharlotte.org/village-partner-community