News & Library
Keep up with the latest news about Firefly Children and Family Alliance, from recent announcements to new programs and services
Kris’ Corner – School Lunches
I just wanted to take a minute and share a thought: kids in foster care might like to take their lunch to school. A fellow adoptive and foster mom friend mentioned this recently and quite honestly, such a thing had never occurred to me…possibly because I mostly...
Foster Care Spotlight: Doris
Doris always wanted to pursue fostering and adoption. In 1994, after marrying her late husband who was deaf, adoption was their first choice before a natural pregnancy. Though Doris and her husband’s mission was to adopt deaf children, there was always the...
Foster Care Spotlight: Meet the Kempf Family
Early on in their family planning, Donna and Jason Kempf never thought they’d be able to do what they’re doing today. The couple became foster parents in 2007, when they were licensed to adopt their son Marat in Colorado. Donna found the inspiration to foster from her...
Kris’ Corner: Blocked Trust and Blocked Care
So let’s talk a bit about blocked trust and blocked care (which is also called compassion fatigue). Anyone out there ever heard of this? Do not worry if you have not…even if you’ve been in this foster care world for a while. I’ve been in the arena for over 10 years...
Kris’ Corner: Sensory Input and the Fourth of July
So this isn’t necessarily Fourth of July specific, although it absolutely has its place at this time of year, which is why I’m including it now. As we’ve discussed before, kids in care always have trauma. Even if you’re told that they don’t have trauma, simply being...
Kris’ Corner: Hand Holding
Let’s talk for a minute about handholding. No I don’t mean holding hands with your partner, or anything like that. I mean holding hands with your child. Often, when a child is learning to walk, or when they’re a “newer walker” a parent is holding their hand as they...
Kris’ Corner: What is the Best Interest of a Child?
So seriously…what IS the best interest of a child in care? True confession time (and this is kind of an ugly side of me, but it is also not uncommon for foster parents to think this way when they first start out). When I began this journey, I thought I knew what would...
Kris’ Corner – Middle of the Night Rituals
So this one might seem a little strange, or at the very least unnecessary if your child sleeps through the night most of the time…but there’s always the chance that they will wake up and need something from you. And so being in the mindset of a scout and “always be...
Kris’ Corner – Dinnertime Rituals
Up next in the rituals line up: Dinnertime Rituals. Before I begin, I must say that I fully realize this time slot may have overlap with afternoon and evening/bedtime rituals, but just want to point out a few things, as I’ve done with the other portions of the day, so...
Kris’ Corner – After School Rituals
Moving along in our work through rituals in our homes, we come next to After School Rituals. Now, I know this will differ for many of you from case to case. Some foster parents work outside the home full-time, some work part-time and some stay at home full-time (BTW I...