EDUCATE
Another child will enter foster care in:
WHAT IS FOSTER CARE?
Foster care provides a safe, temporary living arrangement and support services for children and teens, from newborn to 18-years-old, who have been removed from their home due to neglect, safety, abuse, or family crisis.
The goal of foster care is to safely reunify children with their families. When reunification is not an option, the goal is to find permanency through guardianship, adoption, emancipation, or aging-out of foster care.
WHY DO CHILDREN AND TEENS ENTER FOSTER CARE?
Children and teens enter foster care when their home is no longer safe due to reasons like neglect, abuse, or family crisis. Foster care is not a choice. It’s a step taken to protect them and give their families the chance to reunify. Families are given a case plan by the state run Family Department and Court System to complete before reunification is possible.
“In 2023, over 176,000 children and teens entered foster care in the United States.”
WHAT IS THEIR EXPERIENCE IN FOSTER CARE?
Children and teens in foster care often experience sudden separation from everything familiar—their home, school, and sometimes even their siblings—leaving them to navigate constant change and uncertainty. Many move multiple times, making it difficult to build stability, trust, or a sense of belonging. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 children in foster care will experience three or more placements, highlighting just how common instability can be.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Bananas Foster is your connection to the foster care community! While we are not a licensing agency, foster closet, or place to lend a helping hand, we can link you with local organizations in your area, so you can take the next step! Whether that’s volunteering, providing supplies, donating, or becoming a licensed foster parent, we are here to help children and families thrive.
