May is Foster Care Awareness Month—a time to honor the incredible strength, resilience, and love that exists within foster families, biological families, and most importantly, within the children and youth who navigate the foster care system every day. According to the most recent data, approximately 1,272 children under the age of 21 are in the care of Rhode Island’s Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) and living in out-of-home placements.

At Family Service of Rhode Island, we believe that every child deserves a safe, nurturing environment where they can grow, heal, and thrive. Foster care is not about replacing families—it’s about wrapping around children and their parents with the support they need during times of crisis. When families face challenges, foster parents step in as partners in care, offering stability and compassion while maintaining the goal of reunification whenever possible.

We are always in need of more foster parents—especially those who reflect the diverse communities we serve and who are open to older youth, sibling groups, and children with complex needs. If you’ve ever considered opening your heart and home, know that you won’t do it alone. Our dedicated team stands beside every foster parent with training, resources, and 24/7 support.

The Need in Rhode Island

Rhode Island is facing a shortage of foster homes, especially for:

• Sibling groups so brothers and sisters can stay together.
• Teens, who often wait the longest for placement.
• Children with medical or behavioral needs, who require specialized care.
• Children of color and LGBTQ+ youth, who deserve affirming, culturally responsive placements.

Too often, children are placed far from their communities—or even in institutional settings—because there simply aren’t enough foster families available. You can help change that.

Who Can Foster?

Foster parents come from all walks of life. You can be single, married, partnered, LGBTQ+, a renter or homeowner, a parent or not. What matters most is your willingness to open your heart and home to a child in need.

With support and training provided through agencies like [Family Service of Rhode Island], you don’t have to do it alone. Foster parents are part of a team that includes social workers, therapists, and educators—all working together to help children heal and thrive.

How You Can Help

• Become a foster parent: If you’ve ever considered fostering, now is the time. Reach out to learn more, ask questions, and explore whether it’s right for you.
• Spread the word: Share this post or talk to friends and family about the need for foster parents.
• Support foster families: Offer practical help like meals, childcare, or mentorship to those already fostering in your community.

This month, and every month, we celebrate the village it takes to care for our children—and we thank you for being a part of it. Foster care isn’t easy—but it is deeply rewarding. By opening your home, you can help a child feel safe, valued, and loved.

Learn more about becoming a foster parent at: https://www.familyserviceri.org/programs/foster-care/

Written by Emma B. –

“If people knew how many kids in their neighborhood were in foster care I think they would be more open to it” explains Jhane Pereira, Project Manager for Licensing and Recruitment at FSRI. The foster system is shrouded in myths and misconceptions and often these misconstrued views of the foster system and how it functions can prevent people from becoming foster parents.  

“Society’s view of foster parents is sometimes a barrier,” Jhane Pereira remarked. The belief that some adults become certified for the money has been spread through movies and shows about fostering with the most classic example being the remake of the musical Annie where Ms. Hanigan takes in the girls to receive payment from the state. While this concept has little basis in reality it has created a more negative outlook on foster parents.  

On top of this, some people think they must be married, own a house, or be in a certain financial bracket to foster. Each of these is in no way a barrier to fostering but because so many people believe it is, many don’t ever look into the possibility of fostering.  

Other misconceptions surrounding regulations are the belief that you cannot have other kids in the house, practice certain religions, or that you can’t be part of the LGBTQ+ community. Once again fostering is not impacted by how people live or who they live with and fostering is open to anyone willing to help a child in need.  

The other major barrier is the misconceptions about the children in the system. “Most people think that the kids in foster care were abandoned and they don’t have family that wants them or loves them and that’s not the case.” Jhane explains “Their birth families are often just having a tough time or dealing with a situation, but they do love them and most of them do want them back.”  

These kids are also often preconceived as “bad kids” especially teenagers but this is nothing more than a myth. FSRI has had teens in their program who have A’s and B’s, are presidents of their class, and who volunteer in their free time. As Jhane describes “People hear teens and they are like no way. But there are teens who want to be in supportive homes who will help them figure out who they are.”  

The most dangerous myth of all is that foster parents can’t make a true and impactful difference in a child’s life. However, this falsehood could not be further from the truth. Jhane remembers “a family who took in a boy who was 5 at the time. He was non-verbal and didn’t really eat, only basically drink protein shakes. But with being in the family’s home and with the help of the supports and the services put in place, he can now say his name, and his birthday, and is starting to say colors. Before he was placed he was very quiet and shy but now he is running around and is very open and happy. Seeing his demeanor change where he could be himself is amazing. It’s a big improvement.” 

But it is also the small moments or short stays that matter. Jhane spoke of a girl who only lived with a woman for a few months but when the girl had her first child she asked her to be in the delivery room with her “because she trusted her that much and wanted that support from her.” The woman was shocked but the girl told her she could only bring one person and she wanted it to be her.  

Every story is unique and beyond the myths and misconceptions are children who can benefit from getting to stay with caring and responsible adults. Every Rhode Islander has a chance to see beyond their pre-conceived notions of fostering and help make the foster system better by reaching out to FSRI today and learning more. To learn more about what is means to foster, please give us a ring at 401-900-8499. 

Written by Emma B. –

A few weeks before Christmas almost a decade ago, Candace received a call asking if she could take a 16-year-old teenage girl for the holidays. Her name was Fiona. 

Candace Johndrow is now the Vice President of the Hope division at Family Service of RI.  It was her work that led her eight years ago to become a mentor for teen girls in the foster system. It was through this mentoring program that she decided she wanted to foster. She had recently finished fostering her first placement with one of her previous mentees when she was asked to take in Fiona.  

“The first day that Fiona moved in I was happy to have her,” Candace recalls. Fiona on the other hand was less sure. “She shows up and she’s standing in the yard and she doesn’t want to come into the house. She was not terrified but she was very timid and nervous. She came in with the State Department of Children Youth and Family Services (DCYF) worker and sat on the opposite side of the couch.”  

“For the first couple days, she would ask if she could use the restroom, she would ask if she could have water, she would ask if she could leave her room. She was very, very conditioned from where she came from to kind of be invisible…to where she couldn’t do anything by herself and she didn’t feel very powerful.”  

However, with Candace’s help Fiona was able to quickly feel at home.  

 “Within two weeks,” Candace shared, “we were singing songs together and she got up early one morning and started making pancakes… Fiona was only meant to be with me for a few weeks but it worked out really well. She asked if she could stay and I was grateful she was staying and our relationship took off from there.”  

Candace always had room for two so over the next few years she continued to foster other teen girls, most of them working towards reunification or a kinship placement. But Fiona remained a constant. Finally, after two years together and a few weeks after Fiona’s 18th birthday, Candace adopted her.  

Less than a year later that 15-year-old Amelia came to stay with them. Amelia, much like Fiona, was initially quiet.  “Most of the teen girls who come into my home never truly know themselves and they’re either passive and quiet and don’t seem to have much of a voice yet or everything is outward and loud. To me, both are consequences of not having true confidence and knowing their worth, but when you can help someone stay safe for a while you see their growth,” Candace explains.  

Under Candace’s love, care, and support Amelia began to experience this growth, something Candace refers to as “finding your swagger” which she describes as “the day you see a change within these young women when they start to feel more confident, and when they start to better understand themselves. When they believe they have value and that they trust you. It’s a hard thing to explain but it’s a vibe in the air and a look in their eye and it’s a swagger in their step, and it takes time for that to grow but when you first start seeing that it feels really good.” 

While Amelia very much wanted to go home to her birth mom and reunification was initially the goal, she and Candace still had an extremely close and loving relationship.  Unfortunately, Amelia’s birth mom’s rights were terminated due to some troubles she was unable to resolve.  At that time, Amelia asked Candace to adopt her as well.  

Today Fiona is in cosmetology school, and Amelia lives in her own apartment while working part-time and attending CCRI to get her bachelor’s degree. They continue to have family dinners with Candace every week and remain extremely close.  

“I’m meant to be their mom and my life is so much richer and better.  There is no part of my life they haven’t touched in a deeply positive way,” Candace remarked “I encourage everyone and anyone to give it a whirl and do not think you have to be some perfect person. I encourage anyone interested to reach out and learn more.”  

There is no one right path. Candace began by volunteering as a mentor and then decided to become a foster parent for girls working towards reunification, before eventually adopting her two daughters.  Other foster parents have different stories and different fostering journeys.  

Connect with FSRI today to start your path toward helping a child in need. To learn more about what is means to foster, please give us a ring at 401-900-8499. 

Written by Emma B. –

For Tanya, fostering was initially a way to still have children when she and her husband Frank believed they would be unable to have kids of their own. However, when she got pregnant with her oldest son, their situation changed. Their family grew and flourished and by the time their youngest was born, they had become a household of six. It was then that Tanya recalled her initial dream of fostering.

Tanya and Frank started small by simply signing up for the required 10 weeks of introductory classes. When the classes ended, they knew it was something they were ready to do. Since they already had a relatively large family, their interest was not in growing their family but rather reflected a deep commitment to providing children in need with a safe place in which to grow up.

“Rylie” came to stay with Tanya and Frank three months later. Rylie was in her teens and had been in the foster system before. She was quiet and shy and did her best to blend into the background. Tanya will never forget the day she watched “Rylie” finally begin to relax. “We were getting a new mattress…. so we had an extra mattress. My oldest son at the time was 11 years old and of course, was like ‘well I want a king-sized mattress.’ And our foster kid, who had never made a claim to anything, said ‘I want it in my room.’ That was the first time we had seen Rylie feel at home enough to express any opinion really.” The home Tanya and Frank provided to “Rylie” gave her a space to feel safe and grow, and it is the little breakthroughs that make fostering so special.

Most recently, Tanya and Frank fostered two babies whose home had been deeply affected by domestic violence. As a result of their particular case, the babies were terrified of men. At first, Frank could not walk into a room without one of the babies – the 11-month-old – screaming and wailing.  That was really hard on him.

“If I had to put her down to do anything, cook dinner, go to the restroom, anything, and give her to Frank, it was immediately like she’s reliving the terrible trauma she had,” Tanya recalled. “So, I’ll never forget the first time she voluntarily went to Frank… Frank held out his hand and said ‘Let’s go change your diaper’ and she grabbed his finger and marched off. Those are the moments that make it worthwhile.”

Watching kids flourish is why Tanya and Frank are now in their 5th year of fostering, and to them, the reason their in it “for the long haul” goes far beyond that.

“I think when I hit those times when I’m like, ‘oh man this is hard’, I take a step back and think of the kids in this situation who have to be in someone’s home,” reflects Tanya. “These kids don’t have the option of saying ‘No we are all set.’ That’s what does it for me, they don’t have the choice.”

The children’s biological parents are another reason why Tanya and Frank continue to foster. “Getting to meet the families of the kids always sticks with me. They all love their babies so much and it’s awesome that we can be part of getting their babies back home to them and giving them a safe place to be until they can do that… sometimes you just need a few things out of the equation for a little bit to fix what needs to be fixed. So, I think it’s really important that we can step in and fill that role.”

Tanya credits FSRI for providing the resources that have allowed them to want to continue to foster.  “With our first placement, we were very new to the system and FSRI was able to guide us through it. They sent people to help with the youth who were having a hard time and when DCYF couldn’t give us more information at the time it was helpful to have FSRI.” She also often joins fostering support groups through FSRI.

Through FSRI, Tanya and Frank have now fostered 24 kids, some for a few days and some for months at a time. They feel strongly that every placement is meaningful. “No matter how hard it is to say goodbye in the end… fostering has made us realize you can help someone for a minute, you can help someone for a day, for a month or however long you can help them. And that amount of time matters. It may not change the world. But it helps.”

That is why FSRI is committed to helping you find a way to help. Reach out to an FSRI representative today and find out what your next step can be. Begin with a class and see where it leads, because every kid has a right to have a safe place to come home to. To learn more about what is means to foster, please give us a ring at 401-900-8499.

Written by Emma B. –

“I honestly believe the hardest thing about becoming a foster parent or an adoptive parent is… being willing to say yes.” Benjamin Weiner and his wife jumped this hurdle over 8 years ago when they began to foster a young girl named Fran.

Family Service of RI (FSRI) Chief Operating Officer Ben Weiner and his wife started their fostering journey as a “visiting resource” - essentially a consistent adult presence in a foster kid’s life who may take the youngster to movies or out to eat. It was through this that they first met Fran when she was 8 years old.

Fran remained close with the Weiners as she grew up and moved through the foster system. Sadly, she could not be reunited with her biological parents. About a year before Fran’s 18th birthday it was clear that she would “age out” of the system without anywhere to go. The Weiners knew it was time to say yes.

Both Fran and Ben and his family were full of excitement about this new beginning. However, it was in no way easy. Ben first realized what it meant to foster and to be a foster child the day Fran moved in.  “There was a lot of excitement but visually to me you could see this child with her whole life came walking in the door… it’s true for a lot of kids in foster care their lifelong possessions have traveled from place to place with them… and they show up with boxes or garbage bags of their stuff and that’s the way it was.”

Ben knew that welcoming someone who had a whole life of their own was daunting but he also felt he was creating a place where she could finally give her lifelong possessions a lifelong home. And so after nearly a decade of moving from placement to placement, Fran reached her last stop.

Ben’s two sons, who were ages two and six when she moved in, were ecstatic to have gained another playmate. Fran and Ben, who both love to cook, found in each other a kindred kitchen companion. Surrounded by her new loving, supportive family, Fran completed her high school junior year.

Right before her 18th birthday, the Weiners adopted Fran. A year later, they watched as Fran graduated.  With the help of the Weiners, Fran has built a life for herself. Fran is now 26 years old and lives in her own apartment, about a 20-minute drive from the Weiners. Fran is also a proud mom – and Ben and his wife are even prouder grandparents.

Ben is proud of getting to watch her with her daughter knowing that the moment he and his wife said yes and every moment after where they chose to care for and love Fran allowed them to be where they are today. “Relationships and families are not always perfect and people are not always perfect. The intent around foster care is not perfect kids and perfect parents, it is everyday people who have a variety of challenges, personalities, aspirations, hopes, positive sides, negative sides.”

There are many ways to be a foster parent and Ben’s story did not begin with the intention to adopt. There are many ways to be a support in a child’s life and every journey can take many routes “The reality is we do not need perfect parents; we need people who are committed and caring adults and it’s really not that complicated.”.
FSRI can assist you in finding a way that best fits you. All it takes is being willing to say yes – and that yes can be as small as reaching out to an FSRI representative today to learn more about what you can offer a child in need. To learn more about what is means to foster, please give us a ring at 401-900-8499.

When I was in 9th grade, my parents sat down with my sister and me and told us they were going to become certified foster parents. Originally, they planned to provide only respite care [which is when you provide a short break for another foster care family]. However, during the summer just before I entered 11th grade, my family took in two foster care kids – a brother and sister, ages 5 and 8 years old. They lived with us for nearly 9 months and even now, continue to be a part of our life and family.

During their time with us, I learned a lot about what it means to have a positive impact and broadened my worldview. Foster care can be a system in place that lifts children up and helps them to learn and grow in a safe environment while helping biological parents do the same, and the system is truly made up of individuals and each person can be part of this positive change. I have seen firsthand that fostering is in no way easy – but it does make a difference.

I hope each of these stories shows you that there is more to the system and that making a difference is never out of reach, nor does it have to be something huge like adoption but instead can be something as simple as providing a safe home for a weekend. With the help of FSRI, you can become part of what makes a difference for a kid in need. To learn more about what is means to foster, please give us a ring at 401-900-8499 or visit our foster care webpage at https://www.familyserviceri.org/programs/foster-care/.

Intrigued by this unique model in social services, she reached out to former Vice President Susan Erstling and applied to an unpaid internship at FSRI doing direct response with police. She hoped to bring back what she learned to her master’s studies– and the rest is history!

Now, after eight years of learning, growing, and mentorship through various roles at FSRI, she’s been promoted to Vice President of the Home Division.

“The scope of programs (at FSRI) really allowed me to grow,” Kayla said.

Realizing early in her internship that she may not be cut out for the intensity of the GO Team, Kayla shifted gears and was hired on full-time at FSRI in 2015 doing general outpatient work with children and adults dealing with trauma.

“I realized I didn’t love doing direct response with police,” she said. “It wasn’t something that used my skills. But I was fortunate enough to go on to have a lot of hands-on experience in a variety of other roles. That’s not something you find at all organizations.”

Promoted from clinician to clinical trainer and then clinical director, the varying roles helped her hone in on her personal strengths.

“I oversaw the trauma training institute here at FSRI, which allowed us to partner externally to develop a really trauma-informed community here in Rhode Island,” she said. “I’ve been given so many opportunities here where I wasn’t stifled. That’s one of the most beautiful things about FSRI.”

Kayla found her sweet spot at FSRI in addressing equity in access to services for those who she saw were easily falling through the cracks. One Spanish-speaking mother she worked with had been unsuccessfully trying to navigate it alone for four years on behalf of her child. But without Spanish-speaking staff at her child’s school, she couldn’t get IEP testing or supports put in place. With Kayla’s help, she was able to finally make it happen.

“It was really eye-opening to see that the systems were not designed to give her access to them,” Kayla said. “That skill of understanding systems and the knowledge that the systems are not designed equally was an experience I’ll always remember, and take with me as we build programs moving forward.”

Kayla’s advice to young social workers is simple.

“Go where your passion is. Take your time in school to figure out what that is, and know that it will change over time,” she said. “It’s ok to absolutely hate what you think you’re going to love.”

In her spare time, Kayla says she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, two cats, and caring for over 100 houseplants.

“I love staying busy. My partner will tell you I’ve never relaxed once in my life,” Kayla joked.

In addition to her new role at FSRI, she and her partner are looking forward to spending the foreseeable future renovating an old Victorian house.

What do you do after years of dealing with gangs, robberies, domestic violence, grand theft auto, and other crimes on the mean streets of LA?

You become a foster parent!

At least that’s what Maurice Graham of North Providence did.  He and his wife Rhode, over the past two years, have cared for seven foster children, mostly teenagers.  Many of whom have since been reunited with their families.

“She brought up the idea of becoming foster parents,” he said.  Rhode has cousins who have been caring for foster children for years. Maurice and Rhode enjoyed meeting the kids at family gatherings.

The Grahams bring a lot of experience to foster parenting, including raising their own kids.  “We have the house; we have the room.  We have something to offer, namely the experience of raising seven children of our own,” he said.

Many people thinking about foster parenting envision taking in an infant, but the Grahams understand the benefits to fostering older children.  For example, they’re self-sufficient and can help around the house.  The Grahams also enjoy focusing on helping their foster children with education (especially since distance learning has become a new element), and life skills, such as making the bed every day.  Their philosophy: We are guides on their journey.  We are influencers who will be positively affecting these children for the rest of their lives.  We lead by example.

Their advice to anyone considering becoming a foster parent: Think about it for a while.  The financial aspect of being a foster parent (e.g. monthly stipends from the state) shouldn’t even be a consideration.  They believe that you have to be willing to drop “foster” from “foster child,” embracing the idea that “This is our child.”

Maurice and Rhode Graham are truly role models for potential foster parents.   “We love every minute of it,” he said.