Get Involved Today
Foster Advocates is Minnesota's Foster-informed systems change organization. We build the policy, partnerships, and people-power that help Fosters thrive. There is a place for you in this work, whatever you bring.
You just heard about us. Here's how to show up.
Over the past eight years, Foster Advocates has learned that real change happens when we center the voices of those most impacted.
A year ago, Foster Advocates released the Minnesota Promise: a Foster-led vision for systems change across education, housing, health, and relationships, and more. The bold ideas inside are already in motion. Reading it is the fastest way to understand where the movement is headed and where you fit.
Join us June 11 as we celebrate one year and the bold ideas now in motion. RSVP for MNP at 1!
Get re-grounded in the vision
The Minnesota Promise is a movement, not a moment. The clearest way to plug in is to engage with the report, find the part of it that speaks to your work, and identify one way you can help carry it forward. Whether you are a policymaker, a partner organization, or a community member, there is a place for you in this.
Strong relationships are one of the best things any of us can offer a young person. We are building a peer mentorship community, and we are especially looking for people with lived experience in foster care.
If you have been in foster care at any point or for any duration of your life and would feel comfortable walking alongside someone who is or has recently exited care, your experience is exactly what makes the difference. It does not always come out naturally, so if this is you, we would love to hear from you.
Be someone's people
When we listened to Foster leaders in our education equity work, three barriers came up again and again: high schools without foster-informed supports, the financial wall of college, and feeling isolated and unresourced once on campus.
We addressed the money through the Fostering Independence Grant and keep advocating to grow it because it is doing what it set out to do, getting more Fosters to college. Now we are building college partners who pilot and run programs for Fosters on their campuses, connected through a statewide Community of Practice.
If you work in higher education, K-12, or a community organization, join us. We are looking for college, high school, and community partners thinking about how to support foster students.
Help Fosters get to and through college
What's a bold idea we don't know about yet?
The Minnesota Promise is a living movement. There are bold ideas already in motion across the state that we have not heard about yet. If you are working on one, or you have an idea for how to change systems for Fosters, we want to hear it.
This is also the place to start a conversation about partnership or a way you want to work alongside us.
Have a question or a lead? Reach us at info@fosteradvocates.org
Don't lose the thread
Sign up to hear what's next, from policy wins to events to new ways to plug in.
“We all have a role to play in creating a child welfare system that truly serves Fosters. When the system does right by Fosters, it uplifts all those around them.”
Upcoming Events
Minnesota Promise at One Year
What We’ve Built, Where We’re Going