Why Foster Care Matters

Foster care exists because children must sometimes be removed from unsafe situations, often urgently and without warning. When a child enters care, they lose the comfort of their home and the familiarity of their daily life. They leave behind routines, schools, belongings, and the people who shaped their world. This sudden disruption creates emotional upheaval that can last long after the initial crisis. The purpose of foster care is to provide safety and stability in the midst of that disruption, but the system is strained, and children often experience multiple placements, inconsistent support, and profound uncertainty. These challenges are what make thoughtful, intentional foster communities so critically important.

The Crisis in Texas

Traditional foster families often care for children in isolation, spread across wide areas without convenient access to resources, encouragement, or support. This isolation contributes to placement instability, emotional strain for families, and reduced opportunities for children. The Geary Foster Foundations model is built to overcome those barriers. By establishing individual foster homes within a shared, supportive community, children experience consistent care, trusted relationships, and a sense of belonging. Foster parents gain immediate access to neighbors who understand their journey, along with mentors, respite volunteers, and program support. This structure creates a stable environment where children have room to grow and families have the backing they need to thrive. The result is a more connected, more resilient, and more successful foster experience for everyone involved.

Why Keeping Siblings Together Matters

When children enter foster care, the relationship they rely on most is often the one most at risk: their siblings. Brothers and sisters may be separated simply because there are not enough homes capable of caring for them together. For a child already experiencing trauma, losing a sibling means losing their strongest sense of identity, comfort, and connection. Staying together helps children feel anchored in a moment when everything else feels uncertain. It preserves their shared history and offers emotional stability that no program or service can replace. Protecting sibling bonds is not just ideal, it is essential to helping children cope, heal, and rebuild their lives.

Why the GFF Community Model Works

Texas faces one of the most significant foster care shortages in the country. Families willing and able to foster are limited, homes are full, and children often wait for placements that can meet even their most basic needs.

  • More than 28,000 children are currently in foster care.

  • Most enter care due to neglect or abuse.

  • Children frequently move through multiple placements, causing prolonged instability.

  • Many foster parents stop fostering within the first year because they lack support.

These realities reveal a system overwhelmed by need, and children who urgently require more stable, compassionate environments.