Foster Care Month: A Call to Action in Greene County

Foster Care Month is more than a moment of recognition—it’s a call to action. At its core is a simple but urgent goal: that communities would become aware of the needs surrounding foster care and, with that awareness, step in to support the families carrying them.

In Greene County, that call took shape at a recent 100 Families Alliance Meeting, where community members gathered to learn and respond. Because when people understand the realities facing children in care, foster families, and biological parents, they begin to see where they fit into the solution.

Foster care requires a network of people willing to step in, support, and stay engaged.

Reflecting on his own experience as a foster parent, Jason Mears, Associate Pastor at Harvest Baptist Church, emphasized the power of community support in moments of urgency. When a child was placed in his home just days before Christmas, his church community stepped in immediately.

A practical, immediate, and relational response is what transforms foster care from a system into a support network.

Panelists made it a priority to remind attendees that supporting children in care doesn’t require becoming a foster parent. It requires participation.

Lindsay Roberts, Executive Director of Together We Foster, as well as a current foster and adoptive parent, brings both professional and personal experience to the conversation. She highlighted how community members can use their unique skills to meet tangible needs:

“I think there's a space for everybody if they're just willing to look and see where they can help.”

From baking birthday cakes to donating quilts or volunteering time, every contribution builds stability for children and families navigating uncertainty.

“When you come across a foster home, don't just say, what can I do to help?" Roberts added. "Because most of the time people aren't going to say something. You kind of have to be proactive in ways that you want to help them.”

This shift from passive willingness to active engagement is what strengthens the entire system of care.

Mears notes that beyond meeting physical needs, foster care must also preserve identity and connection. Whether through food, culture, or relationships, small acts help children maintain a sense of belonging during a time of disruption.

“Just trying to find those things that make them feel comfortable… just trying to do those things that help them feel a little bit of home.”

A common misconception about foster care is that it exists primarily as a pathway to adoption.

Amber Lenderman, Greene County DCFS Foster Care Supervisor, addressed this directly, emphasizing the central goal of the system:

“Almost every family, unless it is an extreme circumstance: the goal of the case is going to be reunification.”

Lindsay Roberts reinforced that message, challenging a common misunderstanding:

“There's no such thing as foster to adopt in Arkansas.”

At its core, foster care is about restoring families whenever it is safe and possible. Children benefit most when they can return to stable, supported biological families.

As Roberts explained:

“Kids want to be with their parents… kids love their families and that's where they need to be.”

With reunification as the ultimate goal, there is a shared responsibility to care for the whole family. Supporting children in foster care means walking alongside their biological families before, during, and after reunification.

“Be willing to get to know these people," Roberts challenged, "be willing to invest in the whole family.” Investing in relationships not just with the child, but with their parents as well creates continuity, even after a child returns home.

Panelists described the critical needs families face when children return home: furniture, transportation, childcare, and ongoing emotional support. Without these, reunification can quickly become unstable.

Amber Lenderman highlighted the importance of community coordination in these moments:

“100 families kind of bridges that gap and connects them to their resources.”

Collective impact becomes essential to ensuring families are not left to rebuild alone. Despite strong community involvement, challenges remain.

Panelists pointed to ongoing gaps in housing, transportation, and available foster homes. In some cases, children must be placed far from their home communities due to a lack of local options—disrupting school, relationships, and stability.

In response to this growing need, Every Child Arkansas is focusing on recruitment particularly among healthcare workers and teachers. These are individuals who are already connected to children and equipped with skills that translate naturally into foster care, from behavioral support to basic medical training.

As Outreach Coordinator Kylee Jordan explained, “The one thing that we're focusing on right now is getting into schools and healthcare organizations businesses to help us recruit and bring awareness to foster care as probably a lot of y'all know teachers do make some of the best foster parents.”

That awareness doesn’t just lead to more foster homes. It activates a broader network of support. Amber Lenderman shared a powerful example of that response, recalling a 17-year-old in foster care who simply wanted a photo shoot. After Lenderman reached out for support, the response was immediate and overwhelming, with dozens offering services, clothing, and encouragement.

It was a reminder that when people are aware of needs, they show up. A main goal of foster care month is that communities would be made aware of the needs. And with that awareness, take action to support foster families.

From churches and nonprofits to neighbors and volunteers, every connection matters. Every act of support strengthens not just a child’s experience, but an entire family’s path forward.