Northfield, N.H. – May 20, 2024 –National Foster Care Month occurs nationwide every May, with a primary goal of enhancing awareness of the more than 391,000 children that need foster care across the country. In 2023, New Hampshire alone had more than 1,000 children in the foster care system. Despite a substantial unmet need for services, the number of foster care homes in the state has steadily decreased from 871 in 2019 to 599 in 2024.
Spaulding Academy & Family Services, located in Northfield, has a long history of playing a key role in providing assistance and solutions to combat the lack of foster care opportunities in the Granite State. Founded in 1871 as the New Hampshire Orphans Home and School for Industry, Spaulding Academy is one of the longest-running organizations serving children in need in the nation. Those needs are as critical as ever more than 150 years later with many children needing host families so they can be safe, loved and experience the childhood they deserve.
“It’s incredibly hard to see the profile of a kiddo that just really needs a good home and not have one for them,” said Nicole Babineau, the community-based services director at Spaulding Academy, when speaking on the foster home shortage. “Being a foster parent is hard work, but it is powerful and rewarding and it’s nothing to be afraid of. We help support the families and give them extra tools in their toolbox to help the child they are fostering – that’s what Spaulding is here for.”
Working closely with the state and the Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Spaulding Academy provides foster home placements for children and youth, from birth to 21 years old through their Individual Service Option Foster Care Program. The organization recruits, trains and licenses individuals to become foster parents. This includes providing support – such as family therapy, case management, support groups and service coordination – through every step of the process, as well as regular follow-up after a child has been placed.
During National Foster Care Month, Spaulding Academy is looking to raise awareness across New Hampshire that the need to support children is substantial. On average, the organization receives five to six foster care inquiries each day for children in need of a safe and loving home but cannot come close to meeting the demand. In 2018, Spaulding Academy was able to place 25 children through their foster care program. By 2023, they could only place seven children due to a growing shortage of available foster homes.
To celebrate National Foster Care Month, Spaulding Academy staff come together to show appreciation and support for the foster care families they work closely with. This has included hosting events for the parents or giving them thank you gifts to show their appreciation for all their hard work. Even when a family no longer need the services Spaulding provides, the organization continues to maintain contact and regularly checks in with the children and families.
“We continue to foster because there is a need and we feel like we can help,” said Becky Garland, one of the foster parents currently working with Spaulding Academy. “We have met some great children and families through fostering. One of the greatest joys I receive from being a foster parent is watching a family succeed. We love that we can be a part of their journey and see how they grow.”
The staff at Spaulding Academy believes that their willingness to work closely with and listen to their families’ needs is one of the factors that sets them apart from other organizations in the state. Spaulding Academy is dedicated to working tirelessly to provide the children in their care with a better tomorrow and the families they work with all the necessary support and resources they need to give quality, life-changing care.
Spaulding Academy allows foster parents to determine what a good match for them looks like, in terms of age, gender, number of children and behaviors. Their Recruitment and Licensing Specialist walks applicants through every single step of the process and matches them with a team who provides continued support and celebration throughout the entire journey.
“These kids have lost a lot,” Babineau said. “Our foster parents are asked to take in kids that may have experienced significant trauma, and they do the best they can. We are lucky to have really great foster parents that go above and beyond. They treat these kids like their own. That’s what makes me proud of our foster care program.”
Those interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent or applying to foster a child should contact fostercare@spauldingservices.org.
