Foster America partners with communities and governments to build prevention-first systems that support parents and reduce unnecessary family separation. Centering lived experience, we align policy, funding, and practice, scaling local innovation to drive national change.
7 million children are reported to child protective services each year. Unfortunately, most families never receive meaningful support before systems intervene.
Too often, foster care systems respond to family needs after a crisis has already occurred. Foster America works upstream, partnering with communities to shift from investigation and separation to prevention, support, and stability. This approach reshapes how policy, funding, and practice come together to support families.
This work looks different across communities, but our approach and strategy are consistent.
Lived experts shape solutions from the start.
Funding is redirected toward prevention and flexibility.
Cross-sector partners align around shared goals.
Data and experience inform continuous improvement.
We work with communities and governments to test what works and share the learning so progress in one place can strengthen systems everywhere.
“We must reimagine child welfare — beginning with the belief that parents love their kids, and our job is to foster their well-being”
Marie Zemler Wu,
Co-Founder & Executive Directore consistent.
Lasting systems change is built together by communities, leaders, and partners committed to helping families thrive.
In 2026, Foster America marks a decade of building an alternative to a child welfare system rooted in crisis—and proving that families thrive when support comes early, with dignity, and led by community.
