iCARE4aaff

Pass this on to school educators, admins support teams and nurses!

We are looking for 200 schools to become Founding Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools!

HB 4536 was just passed both chambers including training on adoptive, foster and kinship children

The Adoption & Foster Friendly Designation is similar to a Blue Ribbon School award- it honors schools for taking intentional steps to understand and welcome all kids’ families.

Is your school Adoption & Foster Friendly?

HB 4536 which was developed through our advocacy and work, has now passed both the Illinois House and Senate and is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

The bill expands Illinois’ definition of trauma-informed practices to recognize that trauma may be ongoing, relational, and developmentally expressed over time. This is a significant step forward for students impacted by adoption, foster care, and kinship care and we hope it becomes a national model for education policy.

As schools begin looking for ways to weave these expanded trauma-informed definitions into their daily classrooms, our Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools™ framework is already built to do exactly that—helping educators turn this legislation into real-world, daily support for students.

We would like to personally thank State Representative Michelle Mussman for her visionary leadership in introducing this legislation in the House, and Sara Feigenholtz, State Senator for championing it in the Senate. Their leadership reflects a powerful commitment to helping schools better understand and support students impacted by adoption, foster care, and kinship care.

Learn more at: https://buff.ly/Vu580oK

There are still open spaces in each session. Don't miss this free webinar: Supporting Students with Complex Family Stories - https://mailchi.mp/icare4aaff/iassw-btft-email2

See Me, Hear Me: Voices of Foster Care - https://mailchi.mp/icare4aaff/connected-together-newsletter-2026-may

Exciting news!

iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families has been awarded a $33,500 grant from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to expand our Connection Kits™ across Illinois.

This grant will support distribution of our bilingual school-based toolkits to 4,500 Illinois schools, putting practical, research-grounded resources directly into the hands of educators, counselors, and school teams who serve students impacted by adoption, foster care, and kinship care.

As Laura Adams, our Founder and President, shares: "Permanency is the beginning of a child's story, not the end. Schools are one of the most important environments where children can feel seen and supported every day."

We are so grateful to the Foundation for this investment in students, schools, and families across our state. Together, we are building a world where every child is seen.

🔗 Learn more: buff.ly/Te6N9Eo

Big news: a national grant, 4,500 schools, - https://mailchi.mp/icare4aaff/big-news-grant-announcement-dtf

We believe in Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools! Do you?

The teacher who understood. - https://mailchi.mp/icare4aaff/seethewholechild2

Big things are happening in Kane County, and we want YOU there.

Join us on May 1st for THRIVE: Helping Families Thrive Through Early Intervention & Prevention, a free community event hosted by CASA Kane County and designed to strengthen families before a crisis ever begins.

Our very own Laura Adams, Founder of iCARE, will be delivering the inspiring keynote: "Prevention Starts with Us: Building Strong Families Together."

Here's what to expect: practical, hands-on workshops, a resource fair with community connections, and lunch and childcare included. All at no cost to you.

May 1, 2026 Christ Community Church, 820 S Randall Rd, South Elgin, IL 60177 9am to 2pm, FREE to attend

Save your spot today: https://buff.ly/PFMEusJ

At Friday’s annual Illinois CASA conference, the moment that stayed with me most came from a man who had lived it—once in foster care, now adopted, and today serving as a CASA. He shared that what we spoke about was his story.

It brought me to tears- he and kids like him are our “why” .

We were also asked: “What would it take to get this training and Connection Kits” into the hands of every CASA?”

And a school board member—also a CASA—stepped forward to have her schools become Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools.

This is how change happens—when systems connect so kids feel seen, supported, and like they belong.

Your gift of any size can help adopted, foster and kinship children get the support they need in school.

Please consider supporting our work at iCARE and giving to our Whole Child Campaign. 💙