Community and Rehab Care - Community Living / February 3, 2026
Kelsey Davis, National Director of Foster Parent Recruitment, and Stacy Brindley, National Treatment Director at StepStone Family & Youth Services, discuss the impact of the foster parent shortage in a recent episode of the Fostering Change Podcast.
During the episode, Kelsey and Stacy examine the ongoing foster parent shortage and its far-reaching impact on children who need stability, consistency, and a sense of belonging. They discuss the factors contributing to the increasing demand for foster families and how the shortage affects outcomes for children in care.
They also discuss common misunderstandings about fostering and highlight the need for a more effective approach to recruiting foster parents. Kelsey and Stacy point out that recruitment messages should change to show what fostering is really like and connect more with potential families.
A key part of their discussion is the need for strong support for foster parents. The episode shows that children do better when foster families have strong support, from recruitment through their time in care.
This episode shares helpful insights for child welfare professionals, foster parents, and community members who want to strengthen foster care and help children and families do better.
Listen to the full podcast here.
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