Koinonia News
News About Fostering & Adopting
The Journey to a Forever Family
It was 2017 when I first met Hannah and her younger siblings, Aiden and Isabella. As the eldest, 11-year-old Hannah had taken on the role of leader and protector. Aiden (6) and Bella (3) were timid and shy, watching Hannah’s every move to see how they should proceed....
What Is Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC)?
If you have looked into fostering at all, you have may have heard the term ISFC, or “intensive services foster care.” So, what exactly does that mean? Intensive services foster care is a level of care. Foster youth who are considered ISFC have a higher level of need...
Why Family Reunification & Preservation Always Comes First
In our society, there can be misconceptions about why children end up in foster care, and therefore a hesitancy towards reunification. While there are certainly cases of abuse and severe neglect, there is usually a more complex reason a child enters the foster care...
Why LGBTQ+ Foster Youth Need Our Help
Central to the idea of foster care is looking out for the children in our community, defending those who cannot defend themselves, and providing a safe space for youth who have nowhere else to go. Sadly, when it comes to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and...
Koinonia’s 7th Annual Golf Tournament Benefits Local Foster Youth
May 7th was not just a beautiful day for golf; it was also a perfect day for members of the Placer County community to join together in support of local foster youth. Koinonia's 7th Annual Golf Tournament had been cancelled last year due to the worldwide pandemic that...
The Freedom to Be a Kid
As a youth counselor at Koinonia's Homes for Teens program, I have the unique opportunity to see transformation take place before my eyes. One of our foster teens, Dominic*, exemplifies the type of transformation that is possible. Dominic came to Koinonia’s Homes for...
Make A Strength List For Your Kids
The first time I wrote a strength list for my son, it was actually from a place of frustration. I was focused on how stubborn he can be, constantly touching things, and perpetually full of energy! I sat down real quick, wrote his name in the middle of a blank piece of...
Interview With A Single Foster/Adoptive Parent
Many people wonder, “Do I have to be married to foster or adopt?” The answer is no. Some of our resource parents are married, some are in domestic partnerships, and others are single. We recently shared Samantha’s adoption story as a single mom and teacher. She was...
Disney’s SAFETY Demonstrates the Impact of Community on Foster Care
Receiving help is not a sign of weakness, but when you’ve grown up thinking you’re on your own in this world, it can be difficult to embrace the support of others. Many foster youth deal with this dilemma, yet Ray McElrathbey’s story is an example of how the...
Koinonia Celebrates Donors Who Supported Foster Youth During Holiday Season
In a year like 2020, many nonprofits have been faced with challenges unlike ever before. As the holiday season approached, our expectations for giving were fairly low, but we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of our communities. Every year we celebrate the...