Children First Foster Family Agency

A Magical Evening: Recapping the 2024 Sundial Garden of Lights

As the holiday season approached in December 2024, something special was brewing at Children First FFA. We were beyond excited to welcome our community to the Sundial Garden of Lights, an event designed to bring light and warmth during the colder months—and it truly did just that. On the evening of the event, the Sundial Garden transformed into a dazzling wonderland. Thousands of twinkling lights illuminated the garden, creating a magical atmosphere that was felt by all who walked through. From families with young children to longtime supporters of our [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-03-20T13:27:14+00:00March 20th, 2025|Uncategorized|Comments Off

Foster to Adopt in California | The Foster-to-Adopt Timeline: What to Expect on Your Adoption Journey in California

If you are hoping to adopt a child to grow your family, you might be thinking about using the foster system to work toward that goal. And, it’s true – foster to adopt in California is a popular path that has been followed by many families over the years. The outcome in these cases can be a good one for all involved, but it’s important to understand what the timeline looks like and how the process may play out. Let’s take a closer look at this below. Understanding the Basics [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-01-08T17:08:58+00:00February 26th, 2025|foster to adopt|Comments Off

Foster Care Adoption in California | Supporting Our Parents: Resources and Assistance for Foster-to-Adopt Families in California

For many couples, adopting a child is a dream that it seems like may not ever come true. The road to adopting can be long and winding, but it certainly is rewarding in the end. One potential path to explore is foster care adoption in California. This can be an effective way to adopt a child – and to help many others along the way – but you need to know what to expect and how the process works before getting started. Understanding the Foster-to-Adopt Process One of the common [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-03-12T02:07:45+00:00February 26th, 2025|Foster Care in CA|Comments Off

Become a Resource Parent in Shasta County | The Financial Side of Foster Parenting: Reimbursements and Considerations in California

Everything in life has a financial component. That’s even true for foster parenting. Even if you would prefer to ignore the money side of things and just focus on the impact you can have on your community, that’s not how life works in the modern work. When you decide to become a resource parent in Shasta County, you need to think carefully about what the financial piece will look like and how that is going to work for your family. Reimbursements Help Lessen the Burden In addition to the time [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-01-08T17:03:27+00:00February 19th, 2025|Foster Parent|Comments Off

Independent Living Program in California | From Guidance to Independence: Supervision and Mentorship in Transitional Housing and Independent Living Programs for Foster Youth in California

It’s easy to take for granted the role of mentorship in the early stages of life. For people who have always had supportive figures in their lives, it might not be obvious just how important those people have been in paving the way for future successes. Young people in foster care, however, don’t have that type of advantage and are often searching for someone to lead them. Does the Independent Living Program in California provide that type of guidance and support? Let’s take a closer look below. Some Fundamental Similarities [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-03-12T02:28:21+00:00February 19th, 2025|Independent Living|Comments Off

Independent Living Program in California | Independence Matters: Exploring Autonomy and Freedom in Transitional Housing Versus Independent Living Programs for Aging Out Foster Youth in California

For any young person leaving childhood for adulthood, the autonomy of being an adult is an amazing – and overwhelming – thing. It is exciting to have so much control over your day-to-day life, but it is also a little scary to be in charge. This transition might be even more difficult to navigate for former foster youth who may not have a strong support system. Through programs like the transitional housing program and the independent living program in California, such young people can get the help they need while [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-03-11T22:58:49+00:00February 12th, 2025|Independent Living|Comments Off

Foster Parenting in California | California Foster Care Q&A: Answers to Your Most Pressing Questions

If you are interested in foster parenting in California, you likely have more questions than answers about how the process works and what it involves. There is a lot to learn, so we’d like to share some questions and answers below that will help you better understand what foster care looks like and how you could play an important role in the system. What Are the Basic Requirements to Become a Foster Parent? There are a number of fundamental requirements that you will need to check off in order to [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-03-12T02:06:50+00:00February 12th, 2025|Foster Parent|Comments Off

Leading Children First Foster Family Agency into a New Era

A Journey of Dedication and Growth At Children First Foster Family Agency, 2025 marks a new chapter as Shannon Pierce steps into the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). With over 30 years of experience in education and social services, Shannon is no stranger to the challenges and triumphs of supporting foster youth and families. Her journey from educator to social worker to executive leader is a testament to her unwavering commitment to making a difference. Shannon’s career began in the classroom, where she spent 11 years shaping young minds [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-02-06T19:45:29+00:00February 6th, 2025|Uncategorized|Comments Off

AB12 California | The Importance of Mentorship: Guiding Young Adults Towards Independence

No one can do everything on their own. We all have help along the way, and some of us are fortunate to have more assistance than others. For foster children who have aged out of the system or will be reaching that milestone shortly, it can be difficult to find mentorship and support. Fortunately, steps like AB12 California—officially titled the California Fostering Connections to Success Act—are changing that. This landmark legislation, passed in 2010 and implemented in 2012, allows eligible youth to remain in foster care until age 21, providing [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-01-08T16:47:04+00:00February 5th, 2025|Transitional Housing Program|Comments Off

Transitional Housing Program in California | Sustaining Success: Post-Transitional Housing Support for Foster Youth’s Independent Living Journey

In the early stages of a child’s journey through the foster care system, the focus is simply on keeping them safe and supported. This is a difficult situation for a young person to face, and they need as much community support as possible. Then, as the years pass, the attention slowly shifts toward helping them move into adult life successfully. This is where the transitional housing program in California can make such a big difference. Through this program, young people who are aging out of the system can get the [...]

By Children First FFA|2025-03-12T02:06:36+00:00February 5th, 2025|Transitional Housing Program|Comments Off

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