Love in Action: Celebrating the Heart of Our Community

February often brings the pressure to create warmth and delight in a cold, gray month. For those in the adoption, foster, and kinship community, love goes far beyond Valentine’s cards and candy hearts.

In the iCARE4 community, love is rocking a baby at 2 a.m., navigating outbursts with patience, Googling teen slang to connect, and bravely seeing the whole child in the classroom. It’s the imperfect, soul-nourishing love that donors, caregivers, and educators pour into our mission every day.

This month, let’s celebrate the love that transforms lives—beautiful, messy, and unshakable.

Why Adoptive and Foster Care Training Must Be Standard

In Illinois, approximately 300,000 adoptive, foster, and kinship children face unique emotional and developmental challenges that demand specialized support. Yet, inconsistent training for educators leaves their success up to chance.

Trauma-informed care isn’t just compassionate—it’s transformative. Research shows it improves academic outcomes, reduces behavioral crises, and even saves schools and the state significant costs. Without universal training, however, a patchwork system risks misunderstanding these children’s needs, perpetuating cycles of instability and failure.

Every child deserves equitable access to care. Let’s ensure all educators are equipped to recognize and support the unique needs of these children.

Read more about how we can build a consistent, trauma-informed system to create lasting change for Illinois’ children.

Parenting in foster and adoptive roles is deeply rewarding but also uniquely challenging. To truly show up for your children, it’s essential to prioritize your own well-being. Burnout is real, but by nurturing yourself, you strengthen your ability to nurture others.

Discover practical tips to care for yourself, including building a strong support system, celebrating small wins, and carving out time for relaxation and joy. Remember, self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Explore how focusing on your well-being can help you stay resilient and make a lasting impact on your family.

Read more for insights, support group recommendations, and self-care strategies.

On January 16, 2025, advocates, educators, and policymakers united in a shared mission: improving support for Illinois’ foster, adoptive, and kinship children in schools. The roundtable highlighted the urgent need for trauma-informed practices and targeted mental health training for school staff, with compelling data underscoring the life-changing impact these efforts could have.

Programs like the School-Based Adoption Competency Training and iCARE4 Schools Connection Kits exemplify the innovative steps being taken to close gaps in support. With the power of community collaboration and actionable solutions, this initiative aims to transform schools into havens of growth and healing for every child.

Join the movement—reach out to learn how you can help foster change in your community.

Parenting in foster and adoptive roles is both rewarding and challenging, often requiring parents to navigate big emotions and behaviors stemming from childhood trauma. Burnout is real, but prioritizing self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Building a support system, celebrating small wins, and finding time for joy and relaxation are critical to maintaining your well-being. By nurturing yourself, you’ll be better equipped to nurture your children and create a thriving family dynamic.

When your teen says, “I hate you,” it stings—especially if you’re parenting an adopted or foster child. But these words often reflect their internal struggles, not their feelings toward you. Teens grappling with trauma or identity questions may express anger toward the safest person in their life: you. By staying calm, reframing their outbursts as cries for help, and offering consistent support, you can guide them through these tough emotions. Remember, their words aren’t about rejection—they’re about navigating big feelings. Your love and patience are more important than ever.