The AOK Blog

What Matters Now

My therapist recently shared a new word with me: pronoia. A state of mind where someone believes the world is conspiring to help. ...

AOK Appreciation Breakfast

Inaugural AOK Appreciation Breakfast In honor of National Adoption Month, this fundraising event recognizes the foster/adoptive families and social workers on the front lines of ...

Sundae Funday 2023 A Huge Success!

AOK Board and Staff Members (L-R): Kyle, Melissa, Marianna, and Elaine. The children were smiling. The weather was gorgeous. People came to run with their ...

Job Opportunity: Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator

Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator All Our Kids, Inc. All Our Kids, Inc is a Western MA-based, grassroots, nonprofit organization committed to empowering foster and adoptive ...

2023 Family Resource Changes

In late 2022, DCF unveiled changes to its Family Resource policies. The Family Resource Department is the group of people who license and support foster ...

Post-Adoption Subsidy

When a child is adopted through DCF, there are ongoing financial supports that remain after the adoption is legalized. If you have questions about post-adoption ...

Childcare & Respite Options Through DCF

As a foster parent, there are times when we need someone else to watch our children. Whether to run child-free errands, for a night out, ...

Appeals, Hearings, and Other Terms

The Appeals Process An appeal is the biological parent’s effort to overturn the Court’s decision, typically on termination of parental rights. The appeal is usually ...

The Role of Foster Parents in Court

The foster parent is not a party to the case, meaning the foster parent has no right to participate directly in it through an attorney. ...

The Court Process

Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Many people are surprised to learn about the intricate link between the child welfare and Juvenile Court ...

The Legal System in MA: Who’s Who?

Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Many people are surprised to learn about the intricate link between the child welfare and Juvenile Court ...

What is a Fair Hearing?

Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, It Takes a Village. The Fair Hearing Unit is housed in the Office of General Counsel, at the DCF Central ...

Navigating a 51-A: An Overview

Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, It Takes a Village. A 51-A is a reported allegation of abuse or neglect. It is termed “51-A” because that ...

Claiming a Foster Child on Your Taxes

Adapted from the AOK Guidebook It Takes a Village. Before we provide information about taxes, we need to acknowledge two things. First, tax law is ...

Why Is Foster Care So Hard?

Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, "It Takes a Village." There are numerous reasons foster parenting is inherently more stressful than parenting in general. These fall ...

Family Time (Parent Child Visits)

Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Children in foster care will start visiting with their birth family very soon after they enter care, ...

Foster Parents’ Role in Foster Care Review

Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ A foster care review is one of the most valuable milestones in a foster care case. As ...

How a Case Progresses Through the System

Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ The foster care system is confusing. DCF’s practices and policies with regard to foster care can be ...

How to Advocate for Yourself as a Foster Parent

Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ Being a part of the foster care system is never an easy or straightforward experience. Inevitably, you ...

Before the Social Worker Leaves

Adapted from AOK’s Guidebook, “It Takes a Village“ There are a few things you should make sure to have before the social worker leaves. However, ...

Job Opening at AOK!

Family Support Navigator: AOK Resource & Support Hub All Our Kids, Inc. is seeking a seasoned foster/adoptive parent who is passionate about supporting other foster/adoptive ...

Ep. 28: The AOK Community Closet is here!

There's a new AOK resource for foster families of Massachusetts. Learn about how you can play a role in the AOK Community Closet--either as a ...

Ep. 27: We’re BACK! (But did we ever really go anywhere?)

It's been over two years since Marianna and Kyle have recorded in the same room, sitting at the same table, at the same time. And ...

AOK Executive Director interviewed on CAI Radio Show “The Point”

Listen to the audio here From CAI (Local NPR for the Cape, Coast & Islands)... "The pandemic has served to highlight the shortcomings of the ...

AOK’s Community Closet Featured on MassLive

Read the article here: ‘You’re not alone’: With new ‘Community Closet,’ Massachusetts foster and adoptive parents can find all the supplies they need for free ...

Five Years of AOK!

In February of 2022, AOK celebrates its fifth anniversary! We are so excited with our growth and all we've been able to do for our ...

Parents with their child in a sunny field

Ep 26: Learn About the Pathways to Permanency Program

Pathways to Permanency (P2P) is an incredible program available in Massachusetts to foster families who need assistance and support (um... that's all of us!). Hear Marianna's ...

Sundae Funday 5K and Family Fun Fest

Want to host a table at this event? Interested in Sponsoring This Event? Want to volunteer at this event? In honor of National Foster Care ...

Your Role as a Foster Parent: Six Things to Know

Adapted from AOK's Guidebook, "It Takes a Village" Being a foster parent can be a rewarding and exciting experience. It can also be unnerving, challenging, ...

Covid-19 Community Fund supported 32 local families

Our current global pandemic has stressful and frightening for all of us. In addition to the health concerns many of us have had, millions of ...

Census, Taxes, and Birth Certificates

Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, It Takes a Village. Census, taxes, and birth certificates? Oh my! There are some nitty gritty logistics to deal with ...

Open Adoption Agreements

Indeed, many cases resolve before trial, either days or weeks or months before, or on the first day of trial, with a parent or parents' ...

Supports Available for Foster Families in Western MA

*Adapted from the AOK Guidebook, It Takes a Village. Foster and adoptive families have access to various types of resources and supports that help to ...

Birth Parents’ Rights and Children’s Rights

The right to parent is a sacred one in our society and we don't take it away from people lightly. Our current child welfare and ...

The Role of Foster Parents in Court

The foster parent is not a party to the case, meaning the foster parent has no right to participate directly in it through an attorney. ...

Understanding the Court Process

There are a number of different court meetings, hearings, and trials that you will hear about as a foster parent. The most typical outcome of ...

Who’s Who In the Court Process

There is typically no shortage of attorneys of attorneys and other court personnel involved in a DCF case. Parents' Attorneys Each birth parent will have ...

Approaching Family Time (“Parent Child Visits”)

Children in foster care will start visiting with their birth family very soon after they enter care, sometimes as quickly as the next day. Typically, ...

What Are All These DCF Meetings?

DCF's practices and policies with regard to foster care can be complicated and idiosyncratic. These practices are not always standardized and can vary from office ...

Advocating As a Foster Parent

Being a foster parent is never an easy or straightforward experience. Inevitably, you will encounter challenges you weren't expecting, surprises you're not sure how to ...

Who Are All These Social Workers?

The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) is an enormous government bureaucracy, with a number of important responsibilities that support the safety and wellbeing ...

Masshealth Coverage for Adopted Children

updated October 2023 Masshealth is the state Medicaid program in Massachusetts, and provides insurance coverage for anyone in the state who qualifies based on income ...

AOK’s Coloring Book featured by The Reminder

"Local nonprofit, artist team for coloring book for foster families”– Danielle Eaton, The Reminder, Dec. 28, 2020

A Different Kind of Thanks

It’s significant that Thanksgiving and National Adoption Month coincide. There is so much to be grateful for around adoption, and the spirit of giving thanks ...

AOK Guest Post: Last Chance Words

“When he first came to us, you wrote a letter asking us to take care of him. We loved him and did our best to ...

The Lasting Effects of Our Time with Michael

Earlier this month would have been the third annual Homebrew Showcase for All Our Kids. The last two years of this event have been a ...

Missing My Village: A Pandemic Story

Even though I knew it was coming, the news that learning would happen remotely in my town was a punch in the gut. Remote learning ...

Ep. 25: Meet Child Welfare Advocate and Veteran Foster/Adoptive Parent: Missy Tyler Tarjick

Hearing about Missy's lifelong involvement in foster care and adoption is inspiring, surprising, and sometimes even jaw dropping. From her own birth family's fostering journey ...

Ep. 24: Parenting During the Times of Covid

This is not the summer any of us looked forward to. COVID-19 has been ravaging communities, and leaving families with challenges they've never faced before. ...

Episode 23: Navigating Discussions of Race, Justice, and Equality as Foster Parents

The world is changing quickly, hopefully toward more justice and equality. In light of the recent murder of George Floyd, and countless other victims of ...

Announcement: Adoption Subsidies

July 7, 2020 Have you received a notice of suspension from the DCF Adoption Subsidy Unit, despite having turned in all necessary renewal paperwork? During ...

AOK Founder joins dialogue on State Legislation

In 2019, several pieces of pending legislation (including the Foster Parent Bill of Rights and the Foster Care Review Bill) shined a light on the ...

The Waiting Game

I never realized how much of my foster care experience would be characterized by waiting: Waiting for a response from a social worker. Waiting for ...

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 ...

Six years later: Reflecting on our “gotcha” moment

Mind blowing. Honestly, it's mind blowing. Just hours after Marianna and I recorded the latest episode of the AOK podcast, during which I made reference ...

National Adoption Day Makes Them A Family of Three

When Tani and Carlos Rivera set out to create their family, they both agreed on fostering to adopt. They envisioned their family with maybe a ...

Instant 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 ...

No More Empty Nest

Photos by Kyra Jean Photo As an empty nester, Candice Tauscher wasn’t looking to take up a new hobby like golfing or gardening, she ...

Our Homebrew Showcase was a big hit and covered by local media outlets!

Watch the WWLP Segment below... And here’s a link to coverage from Western Mass News! Our founder, Marianna Litovich, and Chris Maza, fundraiser organizer, talk ...

She 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 ...

AOK’s founder featured in Business West’s “40 Under 40” Class of 2018

40 Under Forty is a celebration of young business and civic leaders in Western Massachusetts. Our founder, Dr. Marianna Litovich, was selected as part of ...

AOK Founder receives 2018 Champions for Children award

Our founder, Dr. Marianna Litovich, received the Champions for Children award at the Child Advocacy Center’s Annual Breakfast in 2018.

Our Spring Field Day event was covered by local media

AOK Founder receives 2018 Champion for Children award

Our Founder, Marianna Litovich, and her partner, Kelley Fike, were the recipients of this year’s Champion for Children award from the Children’s Advocacy Center or ...

It Takes a Village to Adopt a Child

Carolina Clark, 38, and her husband Michael, 42, spent Carolina’s birthday in January 2016 meeting Jordan, the little boy who would take over their hearts ...

No 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. ...

Ep. 13: On Babies, Siblings, and Recovering From Trauma

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast A New Placement, and Looking Ahead https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/030518-aok-pod.mp3 AOK Founder, ...

Ep. 12: A Long, Cold, Lonely Winter

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast A Long, Cold, Lonely Winter https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aok-podcast-winter-lonely.mp3 Although spring is ...

Ep. 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 https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/aok-podcast-100217-check-2.mp3 The most frequent question we're asked is, "What can ...

Ep. 10: Resource Spotlight — All About KidsNet, Foster Care Support Through MSPCC

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast What is KidsNet? https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/AOK-allie-weissman-interview.mp3 KidsNet is an important resource for foster ...

A 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 ...

Ep. 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 ...

An Unconventional Family Tree

Amanda (left) and Angel. Photo by MamaRazzi Photography. Eight years ago, Amanda and her 5-year-old foster son, Angel, sat on chairs in the sterile hallway ...

Ep. 8: What’s Been Happening at AOK?

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast What's Going On At AOK? https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/AOK-update-podcast-final-2.mp3 We've been busy the last ...

Heath and Rachael: Enough love for seven

Rachael and her husband, Heath, already had children. But when their landlord brought up foster care, the two decided that fostering to adopt would be ...

Be Part of the Fabric of Our Community — Purchase a Quilt Square and Support AOK!

Quilt square made by a child at an All Our Kids event. At our events you’ll likely find a table with blank cloth squares. As ...

The Magic of Coming Together

The forecast is for thunderstorms, gusty winds, and a chance of hail. Not ideal conditions for a summer gathering at a local park, to ...

Creating My Village: The All Our Kids Story

When I became a foster parent in 2008, I assumed I was going to enter a strong community of connected foster parents who live the ...

A Letter To My (foster) Baby

To My Sweet Little Boy, The world got a little brighter sixteen months ago today. Because that was the day you were born. When I ...

Recruit + Respect = Retain

As the foster care system in our state and around the country becomes increasingly overburdened, our DCF system has invested significant effort in recruitment ...

Ep. 7: Meet Our Families — Amanda

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast Meet Amanda https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AOK-Amanda-final-podcast.mp3 Imagine having over 150 children come through your home in less ...

Ep. 6: Meet Our Families — Marty Blair

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast Meet Marty Blair https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AOK-Marty-profile-final.mp3 Before she became a foster parent, Marty Blair was a ...

Ep. 5: A Visit With Birth Mom

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast A Visit With Birth Mom Marianna talks about her relationship with her kids' birth ...

Ep. 4: Adopting Through Foster Care

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast Adopting a Child Through Foster Care https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AOK-podcast-adopting-through-foster.mp3 Adoptive parents, Kyle and Marianna, discuss why ...

Ep. 3: Parenting Someone Else’s Child

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast Parenting Someone Else's Child https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AOK-parenting-someone-else-child.mp3 What does it mean to parent someone else's child? ...

Ep. 2: Our Foster Care Stories

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast Our Foster Care Stories https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AOK-our-foster-stories.mp3 Listen to AOK founders, Marianna Litovich and Kyle Belanger, ...

Ep. 1 Welcome to All Our Kids!

Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to Subscribe to our Podcast What's This AOK Thing All About? https://fosteringaok.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AOK-podcast-1-who-we-are.mp3 Listen to two of our founders, ...

Dan and Treacy’s Story

2017 Family Gallery Image by Monesson-Olson Photography Growing up, Treacy always knew she wanted to adopt through foster care, and specifically always wanted to adopt ...

What Could Be Going On With My Child?

Parents have to be good listeners, good observers, and good detectives to be able to understand our kids’ behaviors, particularly when those kids have emotional ...

AOK Founder & Partner selected as 2016 Massachusetts Foster Parents of the Year

Our founder, Dr. Marianna Litovich, and her partner, Kelley Fike, were selected as Massachusetts Foster Parents of the Year in 2016. Read coverage and an ...

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