Letter from the Executive Director
Dear friends,
As I reflect on the journey of Foster America, I am filled with both excitement and gratitude. Our belief in the potential to change the way our nation supports families has sparked innovation and transformation – even within our organization. In 2023, with a new strategic framework to guide us, we truly laid the foundation for our future and for what we believe is a path toward a more just, equitable alternative to today’s child welfare system – so parents and children stay together with access to the resources they need to thrive. Within these pages, you’ll learn of the exciting progress we’ve made in service of our mission. I’d like to share a few highlights. Through collaborative partnerships and the generous support of many stakeholders, we are actively testing new strategies for reimagining child welfare by bolstering upstream resources for families in states including Colorado, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Additionally, as technical assistant providers for OPT-In for Families, a significant national initiative spearheaded by the Doris Duke Foundation, we are supporting efforts to construct a prevention-oriented child welfare system in Washington, DC, Kentucky, Oregon, and South Carolina. Each new partnership not only advances our cause but also connects us with leaders, families, advocates, experts with lived experience, and others who share our conviction that we can effect meaningful change within our child welfare system. We also inducted the first leaders to our new professional development “circles,” evolving what we built for our fellowship program to reach many more changemakers who are already poised to innovate in our field. And we’re proud to say our first leadership circle was comprised entirely of those with lived experience in the child welfare system. Critical to our success in 2023 was the infusion of fresh talent into our team. In doubling the size of the Foster America staff, we welcomed experts who are supercharging our impact and expanding our reach. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our donors, stakeholders, and partners. Your unfailing support belief in our shared vision has been – and continues to be – central to our progress. 2023 is also yours to celebrate.
Warmly,
Marie Zemler Wu Co-founder, Executive Director
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www.foster-america.org
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