"It takes a village to raise a child" is an old African proverb that suggests that raising, teaching, and supporting a child is the whole community's responsibility. At Bellewood & Brooklawn, we find that this proverb is especially true when raising a child in therapeutic foster care. 

In the wake of the pandemic, there is an ever-growing amount of Kentuckians experiencing mental health symptoms. With so many hours in the day filled with work and other responsibilities, it may seem impossible to find the time for a mental health recharge. Thankfully, there are a few small steps that you can incorporate into your day that can make a difference bit by bit. Here are a few ways to head in the right direction.

Kentucky has taken the lead in embracing a new, family-centered approach to foster care. Rather than deferring to child removal in difficult family situations, Kentucky has switched course to provide services, outreach, and support that helps families stay together. By embracing the Family First Prevention and Services Act (FFPSA), Kentucky has unlocked federal funds that will reshape foster care for the better and provide more options for families and children outside of residential placement.

When it comes to therapeutic foster care, there are a lot of myths and falsehoods that are untruthfully spread. Common misconceptions that we often see include therapeutic foster parents only in it for the money and that foster youth are irrevocably damaged. In our vast experience, this could not be farther than the truth! The foster families that we work with are bettering lives, and these resilient youth can live happy successful lives! To dispel some of these myths, our therapeutic foster care team has put together a few REAL facts that we hope you join us in sharing: