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What’s Fall Got to Do With It:
Supporting Youth in Foster Care During Fall Festivities
As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, fall brings with it a unique opportunity for connection, celebration, and creativity. For youth in foster care, however, this season can stir up a range of emotions — from excitement to grief, from anticipation to anxiety. Halloween and other fall traditions may carry fond memories of family memories but also of family trauma.
CASA volunteers can play a vital role in ensuring that youth feel seen, supported, and included during this and every season. This fall, your presence and intentional engagement can help create positive memories and build trust for the children and youth you work with. Fall festivities, like Halloween, may not be joyful for everyone. For some youth, the season may trigger reminders of instability, loss, or transitions between homes. Start by having open, non-judgmental conversations:
- “What do you think about Halloween?”
- “Have you celebrated it in the past?”
- “Is there anything you’d like to do or avoid this year?”
Giving youth a safe space to express themselves — without expectation — can build emotional safety and trust and help you plan activities that youth are excited about. Fall activities can be a fun way to help youth feel included. It can be fun to plan activities with youth to celebrate the season, making sure to respect any cultural or religious preferences. Some fun ideas include:
- Pumpkin carving or decorating
- Visiting a pumpkin patch or fall festival
- Making DIY Halloween crafts or costumes
- Watching Halloween movies (be careful of the scary ones)
- Baking fall treats together
- Helping youth attend or prepare for a school or community event
Youth in foster care may have challenges accessing school events and community celebrations due to transportation issues, lack of costumes, or caregiver availability. CASA volunteers can be key to allowing kids to participate in fall festivities by:
- Connecting with caregivers and schools to coordinate logistics
- Ensuring youth have permission slips and resources to attend events
- Advocating for fees or costume costs to be covered if needed
- Helping youth plan what they want to wear or do
The advocacy of CASA volunteers can make the difference between sitting out and joining in.
But BEWARE! Some Halloween experiences — like haunted houses or scary movies — may be overwhelming or triggering. Be sensitive to signs of discomfort, and offer alternatives:
- Opt out of “scary fun” and choose fall activities
- Choose sensory-friendly events (carving pumpkins, corn mazes, etc.)
- Give kids permission to say “no” without guilt
Let the youth guide the experience. Feeling safe is more important than following tradition.
It’s fun to take photos of youth to give to them (with permission from caregivers and respecting confidentiality). A scrapbook page, journal entry, or printed photo can become a treasured memory. You might say: “This is your moment — let’s make it special.”
So Enjoy…
Halloween and fall festivities offer more than just costumes and candy — they are a chance for belonging, joy, and healing. As a CASA volunteer, your creativity, presence, and advocacy can help transform the season from a potential reminder of loss into a celebration of resilience. Your time and effort matter. Thank you for showing up — this fall, and always — for the youth who need you most. To learn more about becoming a CASA Volunteer, contact CASALasVegas.org.
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