The holiday season is a time of joy and connection, but for foster youth and their families, it can also bring unique emotional issues and challenges.
Many youth in foster care experience a heightened sense of separation or loss during this time, as they may be away from their biological families or adjusting to new traditions. This is where you can make a real difference.
Whether you have friends who are fostering, know a foster family, or have a family member in foster care – you can make a difference. There are many ways to bring warmth and belonging to foster youth and their families during the holidays and beyond.
1. Thoughtful gift-giving
One of the simplest yet most impactful ways to support foster youth is by providing donations for foster families including toys and gifts. Many children and teens in foster care don’t experience the same holiday joy as their peers, making gifts especially meaningful.
When choosing gifts, remember teens in foster care are often overlooked, so age-appropriate gifts such as books, art supplies, or gift cards are deeply appreciated. Gifting tickets to a game or an invitation to a special event is a meaningful way to offer them an experience they might not otherwise have access to.
You can donate toys and items directly to Cayuga Centers or your local foster care agency. Or look for a national program such as the Salvation Army Angel Tree initiative.
If you have foster youth and biological children celebrating together in your extended family or community, be mindful of giving gifts of comparable value and significance to all the children present. This simple act shows foster youth they are just as cherished and included, helping them feel like a true part of the family. You can help create a holiday filled with warmth, belonging, and joy for everyone involved.
2. Provide respite care
The holiday season can be especially overwhelming for foster parents who are juggling their own family commitments along with the extra emotional and physical needs of their foster children. Becoming a licensed parent who offers short–term care and then offering respite care gives foster parents a well-deserved break, allowing them to rest and recharge.
Your support allows foster families to manage the busy season with less stress, and it’s a gift that continues to give beyond the holiday period. Consider becoming a certified respite parent with Cayuga Centers this holiday season.
3. Volunteer to help with errands and more
If providing respite care for a child isn’t an option, there are still plenty of ways to make a meaningful difference. Foster parents often carry more on their shoulders than they realize, and your support can go a long way. When you notice a friend or family member in foster care struggling to keep up, offering a hand with everyday tasks can be invaluable.
Consider running errands like a quick trip to the grocery store, preparing a warm meal, or even pitching in to decorate their home for the season. Simple gestures like wrapping holiday gifts or taking on a few chores like laundry or shoveling their driveway can lighten their load and remind them they’re not alone. Every small act of kindness counts and can give foster parents the encouragement they need to keep going strong.
4. Offer emotional support to teens in foster care
Teens in foster care often feel isolated, especially during the holidays when they may not have the same family experiences as their peers. Providing emotional support to a foster teen can make a big difference. You can do this by mentoring them or just spending time together. Programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters pair volunteers with teens in need of guidance and support, providing mentorship opportunities.
If you know a foster family personally, ask if there’s anything you can do to help support them and their foster youth through the holidays. Even something as simple as being a listening ear, helping them with homework, or offering to take them shopping for holiday gifts, can make them feel valued.
5. Share your family’s traditions
Foster parents pour their hearts into caring for youth, but sometimes the youth they welcome into their homes come from different cultural or religious backgrounds. If you share similar holiday traditions/foods with a foster youth you know, consider extending an invitation to include them in your celebrations.
By welcoming them into festivities that reflect their own customs—whether through a shared meal, holiday traditions, or familiar rituals—you can help them feel connected and valued. These small gestures not only support the youth but also ease some of the foster family’s challenges in honoring traditions they may not be familiar with.
Embracing this opportunity to share your traditions can make the holiday season feel even more special for everyone involved.
Supporting biological families
During the holidays, it’s also important to recognize the emotional challenges faced by biological families of foster youth. Foster care agencies like Cayuga Centers work to maintain positive connections between foster youth and their biological families, especially during the holiday season when feelings of separation may intensify. Some ways you can help include:
- Helping foster youth give gifts to their biological families to help maintain meaningful connections.
- Donating care packages to help biological families reach their goals. Include items like toiletries, stress relief products, journals, and scheduling tools.
- Inviting biological family members to community or faith-based support groups or events to help them feel less isolated and help them build a strong support system.
- Providing mentorship in areas like budgeting, job search, or meal planning.
Support foster youth and their families all year
While the holidays can shine a spotlight on foster care needs, it’s important to remember support is needed year-round. Consider:
- Continuing to donate to support foster care programs. These programs provide important resources like clothing, therapy, and educational materials for foster youth.
- Becoming a foster care ambassador in your community. Share the need for more foster parents and respite care providers. Be a mentor to foster youth or youth who have aged out of foster care.
As the holiday season unfolds, there’s no better time to extend our support to foster youth, foster families, and biological families navigating this season together. The impact of every act of kindness lasts well beyond the season.
Let’s come together to create a community where every youth feels valued, every foster family feels supported, and every biological parent feels hopeful for the future.
