5 Organizations Working To Help All Kinds Of Families
There are many different kinds of families, and they all face unique challenges, from would-be parents dealing with infertility to LGBTQ+ couples facing discrimination to poor caregivers struggling to provide their children with economic stability. The organizations listed here provide services, educational materials, and advocacy for families of all shapes and sizes. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Groups Dedicated To Supporting Families
| Name | Headquarters Location |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan Family Services | Chicago, IL |
| Family Story | New York, NY |
| Children's Friend | Providence, RI |
| Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine | Jacksonville, FL |
| Partnership for Strong Families | Gainesville, FL |
Helpful Products for New Parents
If you're expecting your first child and want to make sure you're fully prepared, be sure to add these to your checklist:
- A baby backpack so you can take your little one on-the-go
- Some baby wash to keep away germs & bad smells
- A bottle for when they get hungry
- If you have extra time to cook, a baby food maker is a good investment
- An entertaining play mat will keep a baby stimulated
- Keep track of precious memories with a baby book
- Some cute & comfy onesies
- A monitor so you can keep track of them without being glued to the nursery
How to Encourage Kids to Read
A great way to start is to get a bookshelf for your child's room. If they have access to their own collection of books, it'll be easy for them to read at their own pace. And if they're looking at the shelf everyday, reading will always be on their mind. It's also important to give your kids a comfortable place to sit. This can be anything from a rocking chair to a couch to a dedicated reading nook. If they have a space that's just for them, it makes reading time all the more special. As they grow, your young ones will start to read more challenging books with words they don't know. Encourage them to look up unfamiliar terms in the dictionary so they can expand their vocabulary. Finally, if you're having trouble getting your kid interested in books in the first place, try bridging the gap between visual media and literature with graphic novels.
How To Take Charge Of Your Fertility
Issues Faced By The LGBTQ+ Community
- Violent hate crimes
- Employment discrimination
- Parents who reject their LGBTQ+ children
- Bathrooms and other public accommodations being exclusionary
- Unequal healthcare
- Housing discrimination
- Criminal justice
- Everyday prejudice
Adoption Rates In United States
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
| Year | Children in Foster Care | Children Adopted |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 750,000 | 55,300 |
| 2009 | 700,000 | 57,200 |
| 2010 | 669,000 | 53,500 |
| 2011 | 643,000 | 50,900 |
| 2012 | 635,000 | 52,000 |
| 2013 | 638,000 | 50,800 |
| 2014 | 650,000 | 50,700 |
| 2015 | 669,000 | 53,600 |
| 2016 | 685,000 | 57,200 |
| 2017 | 691,000 | 59,400 |
Toys & Games That Can Help Kids Learn
- Coding Robots
- Math Games
- Mechanical Puzzles
- Cranium Games
- Science Kits
- Telescopes
- Trivia Games
- Solar System Toys
- Talking Globes
How Many American Children Live In Poverty?
Percentage of children ages 0–17 by family income relative to the poverty threshold, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
| Poverty Level | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below 50% of poverty threshold | 6.9% | 8.8% | 6.7% | 9.9% | 9.8% | 9.7% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 8.2% |
| 50% - 99% of poverty threshold | 11.4% | 11.8% | 9.5% | 12.1% | 12.0% | 12.1% | 11.9% | 10.8% | 9.8% |
The Stages Of Family Life
In Depth
Families come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. From single mothers to same-sex couples and foster parents, no two households look alike. Here, in no particular order, are several groups supporting every type of family.
Up first, in the #1 spot, we have Metropolitan Family Services. Since 1857, this organization has used mentorship, motivation, and advocacy to strengthen and empower Chicago-area families. It provides a wide range of services, such as early learning programs, family caregiver support, and mental health counseling.
In order to help families realize their full potential, Metropolitan provides services in four key areas: economic stability, education, emotional wellness, and empowerment. This organization operates seven community centers and multiple affiliate locations throughout the greater Chicago area, and it reaches more than 93,000 families and individuals each year.
This organization operates seven community centers and multiple affiliate locations throughout the greater Chicago area, and it reaches more than 93,000 families and individuals each year.
#2 on our list is Family Story. This think tank provides original research that corrects false and deceptive information, uncovers new thinking, and helps to set the stage for policy that reflects the realities and needs of all families. It also provides resources that include videos, fact sheets, storytelling, and toolkits tailored for different audiences.
Founded in 2015, this organization works to challenge ideas about "traditional" nuclear families, and to support and showcase a diversity of households. It also works to analyze data that reflects significant shifts to family structures over the past several decades, and provides tools for advocates and journalists.
Coming in at #3, we have Children's Friend. This non-profit creates safe and nurturing environments for children, and helps parents gain access to necessary resources, education, and support that they need. Individuals served by this organization face obstacles such as poverty, language barriers, lack of education, substance abuse, and difficulty accessing health care.
Individuals served by this organization face obstacles such as poverty, language barriers, lack of education, substance abuse, and difficulty accessing health care.
Founded in 1834, Children's Friend is Rhode Island's oldest child welfare organization. It provides foster care and adoption services, nutrition programs, summer learning and enrichment, and other welfare and early childhood services. More than thirty thousand children and families are assisted each year through the organizations' centers in Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls.
In the #4 spot is the Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine, an infertility clinic with doctors who specialize in reproductive medicine for people of all genders. It provides advanced fertility services, including artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, egg and sperm donor programs, and surrogacy.
F.I.R.M offers personalized care by board-certified reproductive medicine specialists, and many members of its staff are multi-lingual. It also provides resources for healthy lifestyles that can significantly improve a couple's chance for pregnancy. Patients can visit several locations throughout Florida and southeast Georgia.
Patients can visit several locations throughout Florida and southeast Georgia.
And finally, #5 on our list is Partnership for Strong Families. This organization is a community-based care agency that delivers comprehensive welfare services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect. It also works with at-risk families to prevent abuse and to decrease the risk of children entering the out-of-home care system.
By providing resources and support to households in need, PSF helps families avoid reaching the crises that lead to formal child welfare involvement. It also facilitates foster care and adoption services. Established in 2003, this non-profit is the lead agency for North Central Florida, serving nearly 5,000 children annually.
