Volume 60 ~ January 21, 2026 | | The Good Stuff in Child Welfare | | |
Welcome to The Good Stuff in Child Welfare!
At the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research, we acknowledge the often heart-wrenching and distressing narratives that dominate the child welfare landscape, leaving us deeply moved and impassioned. However, amidst these challenging stories, there exists a wealth of inspiring achievements and uplifting initiatives occurring nationwide at every level of practice. To highlight and celebrate these positive developments, we are delighted to present this monthly newsletter, dedicated exclusively to showcasing “The Good Stuff” within the expansive field of child welfare. This month, among other updates, we share stories from the winter holidays that support children across the nation. We hope this read gives you a few moments of hopefulness and a sense of possibility.
If there's something you'd like to see here, shoot us an email. Know someone who could use a little Good Stuff in Child Welfare? Send them a copy! We hope you love it as much as we do.
| | Former Foster Youth Raises Funds for Boston CASA Holiday Drive | |
Seventeen‑year‑old Skyla Luzzi‑Porco, a Brookline High School junior and youth formerly in foster care, launched a fundraising campaign to support Boston CASA’s annual holiday gift drive. After spending ages 4–6 in foster care before being adopted, Skyla credits her foster mother, Karen, with bringing stability and light during a difficult period. Motivated by gratitude and a desire to help children currently in care, she set a goal of raising $3,000 to ensure they receive holiday gifts. Skyla is promoting the effort through social media, her church, and outreach to friends, family, and neighbors. Boston CASA’s executive director, Nicole Stewart, praised Skyla’s leadership and noted “her desire to give back and ensure other children feel loved during the holiday season shows the remarkable difference one person’s kindness can make.”.
Link to Full Article
| | Annual Holiday Drive Seeks Toys for Kids in Foster Care | |
Last month, The Foster Alliance and the New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department partnered for a statewide holiday toy drive supporting children in both state and tribal foster care. Community members, local businesses, and organizations were invited to host toy drives, donate new toys, or shop from an Amazon wish list. Program manager Stephanie Juarez emphasized the importance of creating moments of joy for young children entering care. The event, described as a “Christmas wonderland,” featured Santa, food, and a toy station for families.
Link to Full Article
| | Commissioners Accepts Donations, Renews Agreements for Child and Family Services | |
Rice County in Minnesota is committed to ensuring family and child well-being via access to food, housing, and mental health support. The Board of Commissioners approved the renewal of four purchase-of-service agreements with county agencies that provide services such as mental health therapy, parenting education, and school-based interventions, with goals of uplifting the family as a whole. One such agency is the Community Action Center (CAC) for Youth Advocacy, which serves students who are facing food insecurity, housing instability, and mental health challenges through advocacy and resource navigation; such early intervention may prevent families from entering the child protection system. All agencies were renewed with unanimous approval from the commissioners, with some receiving increased funding to deliver well-needed support to the community.
Link to Full Article
| | Santa Barbara County Community Comes Together to Grant Holiday Wishes for 677 Children in the Foster Care System | | |
Santa Barbara County CASA in CA hosts an annual Project Wishes gift drive for children in foster care, to fulfill holiday wishes in the form of meaningful gifts. This year, the gift drive was supported by 19 community giving groups and 49 individual wish granters, who came together to ensure that 677 children received personalized gifts, ranging from essential items to books, toys, art supplies, and practical resources for older youth. Kim Colby Davis, the Executive Director of CASA of Santa Barbara County noted, “For children in the foster care system, the holidays can amplify feelings of loss and uncertainty. These gifts send a powerful and lasting message: you are seen, you matter, and your community cares about you.”
Link to Full Article
| | Too Old for Foster Housing, Young Men Find Home at Bridge to Brighter | | |
Bridge to Brighter is a nonprofit that supports young men in Milwaukee, WI who have aged out of foster care. Their apartments provide stable transitional housing for more than a dozen young men as they enter adulthood, ensuring that they can finish school and begin working without worrying about where to live. The nonprofit offers holistic support beyond housing, including financial literacy education, career guidance, and cooking classes. Notably, residents also participate in mental health group sessions and one-on-one counseling, providing them with a space to process past trauma, reflect on their experiences, and build healthier foundations for the future. Bridge to Brighter continues to expand; after recently purchasing a third building in the city, the program will serve eight more young men in 2026.
Link to Full Article
| | Wishes Can Come True With Nonprofit Helping Foster Children in New Jersey | |
One Simple Wish is a New Jersey–based nonprofit that grants wishes for children, youth, and families involved in the child welfare system. Young people currently in foster care or who have aged out can submit “asks,” which individuals across the country can view and fulfill online. Wishes range from prom dresses and Lego sets to laptops for school and fees for courses or extracurricular activities. The organization was founded in 2008 by Danielle Gletow, a foster parent who recognized the importance of giving young people in the foster care system the opportunity to make choices and have their wants acknowledged. Today, One Simple Wish partners with social service agencies, schools, nonprofits, community groups, and churches nationwide to grant more than 30,000 wishes each year, including approximately 6,000 in New Jersey alone.
Link to Full Article
| | The Field Center team would like to thank the staff and students who brought this newsletter together. Specifically, we recognize our Fall 2025 students Saadhya Bahudodda, Cheri Mitchell, and Jasleen Virk for their contributions in providing readers with this uplifting content. Many thanks to our Associate Director Sarah Wasch for editing and our Managing Faculty Director Dr. Johanna Greeson for her idea to curate the “good news stories” happening in child welfare! | | | | |
