Listening to Youth, Building Supports, and Strengthening Connections in the North Country
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of joining a team of dedicated staff from the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) as they welcomed and celebrated current and prospective foster family caregivers at the inaugural North Country Summit. We connect with families in a similar way in the southern part of the state, but because New Hampshire’s geography makes it challenging for families in the North Country to make the round trip south in one day, we brought a conference to them!
The North Country Summit was inspiring from beginning to end, but the most important part for me was the opportunity to listen to our seasoned and new caregivers, our community partners, and youth with lived experience. Leading with the voices of teens as they shared their foster experiences set the tone of the entire day. Their perspectives are both raw and refined. With grace and humor, they shine a spotlight on where our systems are working and where improvements can be made, reminding us that the most powerful thing we can do is listen. There is nothing more inspiring and humbling.
Every day across New Hampshire, extraordinary individuals and families of all shapes and sizes open their homes – and their hearts - to give children respite, security, and safety from a world that has been turbulent and sometimes scary. Our foster families understand that the children and teens that enter their lives are survivors, and with patience and care, each child can shine brightly. Equally as important, our DCYF staff, many from the communities they serve, provide the encouragement and resources that support families so they can open themselves to possibilities that were once unimaginable. Together they show youth that with stability and care, they can flourish in even the most challenging conditions.
In a perfect world, foster care would not exist. Every family would have the resources, supports and ability to safely care for their children. But until that day exists, foster families and kinship caregivers stand ready to bridge the gap. We often ask caregivers to do what seems impossible- to give their hearts to a child until they can safely return to their own family. The caregivers I spoke with willingly open their homes as a profound act of kindness and compassion, often without knowing how a particular story will end. In return, they simply ask for support through the emotional and logistical challenges of supporting children and youth that have experienced trauma and disruption. That support is our collective responsibility.
While the North Country Summit allowed us to thank families for the gift they give every time they answer our call, we are incredibly grateful for all foster and kinship caregivers across the state. It is through open dialogue and candid conversations with caregiver families that we learn how to better support and equip them with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to care for children with a wide range of needs, often in a moment’s notice.
Kudos to all who made the Summit such a success. Showing up matters. You represent the best of public service.
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Foster Care Month.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent, you can find more information on DCYF's Foster Care page.
Tricia Tilley
Associate Commissioner