Families and Caregivers

Learning for families and caregivers

An introductory collection for foster families, kinship caregivers, parents, educators, and community supporters. The activities focus on dignity in everyday care and during transitions. They do not replace agency orientation, required training, or individualized guidance from the child’s care team.

01 · Listen before deciding

Invite a preference without making the child responsible for adult decisions. Offer understandable choices and explain what is known. Do not promise a timeline, outcome, or reunion you cannot control.

Practice together Practice explaining a change in routine. Ask: what can we say honestly, and what choice can we offer?

02 · Respect identity and belonging

Use the child’s name correctly. Respect language, culture, beliefs, relationships, and personal belongings. Avoid requiring affection, gratitude, a new family title, or a personal story as a condition of welcome.

Practice together Write three ways to welcome someone without requiring them to perform happiness or closeness.

03 · Prepare a caring transition

Arrange suitable luggage, explain the next step, protect privacy, and name who will remain available for support. Preserve familiar items and routines where possible and appropriate.

Practice together Use the Dignified Journey Checklist to plan a fictional transition and identify one adult responsible for each step.

04 · Support without exposure

Share information only through appropriate care channels. Do not post a child’s image, placement, history, or story to promote a donation or celebrate a program. A child’s dignity is not a fundraising exhibit.

Practice together Review a fictional luggage donation announcement. Remove identifying details and any request for a child’s photograph or public gratitude.

05 · Respond with steadiness

Offer a calm explanation, practical support, and a chance to pause. Listen without demanding disclosure or asking the child to prove their feelings. When needs exceed your role, seek help through the appropriate care team or support channel.

Practice together Practice: “You do not have to tell me everything. What would help with the next step?”

06 · Follow through and repair

Keep small promises. If something was missed, acknowledge the action, ask what would help, and make a concrete correction. Respect that trust and belonging develop at the child’s pace.

Practice together Choose one routine that makes follow through visible: a belongings check, a predictable update, or a quiet opportunity to ask questions.

Reflect as a caregiver

• Whose voice did we hear, and whose voice did we miss?
• Did our actions protect the child’s privacy and belongings?
• What did we promise, and what have we actually completed?
• What support do we need to provide more consistent care?