Fostering Community
Keynote Address: Children’s Study Home 2019 Meeting
On June 6, 2019, I shared the keynote address with State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield) at the Children’s Study Home Annual Meeting. Rep. Farley-Bouvier shared some information about the Foster Parents Bill of Rights, and her legislative advocacy at the state level. I talked about the challenges of being on the front lines of foster…
Read MoreInstant Family has some hidden gems
Heather Adams, journalist and AOK board member, not only got a sneak peek of Instant Family – a new movie about the foster care experience – but also got to chat with the writer and director. Read more to hear her take! Have plans to go see Instant Family this weekend? Maybe you’re waiting until…
Read MoreShe Could Have Been My Daughter
The first time I held her in my arms, she was only weeks old. Her tiny body nestled between my arm and my belly, contorted in that squishy way newborns often look. It was an outdoor party in the summer, and she was wearing a short-sleeved onesie over her itty bitty diaper, her…
Read MoreNo Judge Would Ever Take Her Away
There are a lot of well-meaning comments about our journey through foster care from well-intentioned friends and family that really rub me the wrong way. I don’t know how you do it; my heart couldn’t take it. You’re such an angel. That baby is so lucky to have you. These statements make me uncomfortable because…
Read MoreEp. 12: A Long, Cold, Lonely Winter
Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast A Long, Cold, Lonely Winter Although spring is almost upon us, it’s hard not to feel the weight of the winter depths at this time of year. And to make matters worse, as your inclination is to hide under…
Read MoreEp. 11: Want to Get Involved? Here’s Our Menu of Opportunities!
Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast Our Menu of Opportunities The most frequent question we’re asked is, “What can I do to help?” As a child welfare advocacy organization, we know there are thousands of children in Massachusetts who need foster families. But we also know not all families are…
Read MoreA Message of Thanks Giving
To all those who have opened your homes and hearts to children in need, this message is for you: On this day of gratitude, I want to say how thankful I am for all of you who are part of this organization, the foster and adoptive families I’ve met on this journey, and the sweet…
Read MoreEp. 9: National Adoption Month
Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast National Adoption Month November is National Adoption Month! Listen to learn about a special connection Massachusetts has to this awareness-raising month, and about a local resource where you can see pictures and read stories of kids in foster care!
Read MoreEp. 8: What’s Been Happening at AOK?
Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast What’s Going On At AOK? We’ve been busy the last few months! Lots of great moments to share, and milestones achieved. And of course there is so much more in the works. Hear all about it!
Read MoreBe Part of the Fabric of Our Community — Purchase a Quilt Square and Support AOK!
At our events you’ll likely find a table with blank cloth squares. As children arrive they are invited to color and create — making their own masterpiece. Coloring for a child is pure. They draw what they’re thinking, not worried about perfection. In their own way, stick figures and potato people can be beautiful. We…
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