Foster America

Foster America, founded in 2016, works with communities and local governments in the United States to build a just and equitable alternative to the child welfare system. Its stated aim is to help families stay together by expanding access to resources, working through changes to policy, funding and practice rather than through investigation and separation. The organisation describes its approach as upstream: prevention, support and stability.

Its main programme, the Foster America Fellowship, recruits, trains and supports diverse leaders to drive innovation in child welfare policy, funding and practice. Fellows have completed 63 innovation projects across 17 states and territories. Among fellowship alumni, 59% are people of colour and 29% have experienced the child welfare system firsthand. In 2023 the organisation expanded into an on-the-ground, multi-year partnership model, acting as a focused partner to local transformations aimed at reducing child welfare system involvement.

Foster America works across child welfare, local government, social services, and family support and prevention. Its stated core values are Equity, Self Determination, Learning, Belonging and Generational Change, and it centres lived experience in its work while drawing on a range of perspectives and expertise. Alumni form a community-oriented network spanning the 17 states and territories where fellows have been placed.