What’s causing the foster care crisis — and how to fix it

There are over 400,000 kids in America’s foster system — and this man believes many of those cases are avoidable. Here’s how he plans to fix it, and keep safe families together.

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There are over 400,000 kids in the U.S. foster system, and many people think that’s because those children have “bad” parents. Adrien Lewis, founder and president of CarePortal, knows that that’s often not the case.

In many instances, it’s not abuse that’s fueling the foster care crisis, but rather neglect stemming from the overwhelming effects of poverty in America’s families. Many parents are struggling to secure the vital means and support they need to provide for their family’s basic needs, and the system punishes them for it. That’s where CarePortal steps in.

This technology bridges the gap between social service agencies and the community, ensuring timely assistance for families with immediate needs. Members of the community can directly respond to alerts about families in need, providing tangible resources that can potentially prevent children from being placed in foster care. CarePortal has already made significant strides, currently operating in 30 states and aiding over 200,000 children and their families.

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[CarePortalApp]

It is an honor to work with you all! Thank you so much for doing some coverage on the connecting technology of CarePortal and why we do what we do!! 🧡

[jennifergulley]

Case worker here. This is AMAZING!!! I love seeing this. This made my day, keep fighting. <3

[BluntressVidaLoca]

If I was a foster care parent I would have to break the law to investigate if the parent was truly an abuser.

[cassandreacruz]

I’m getting my license to foster in Fl. I want to give back. Thank you for sharing this.❤

[Theadoptchannel]

This is amazing! As a fostercare alumni, i love this!

[Tea_]

I'm currently happening to me right now over some bs opinion her school was lying about!

[Tea_]

How do we get help being a family in crisis here in alaska? What little I've found I can't find any help yet!

[DarkMoonGeneral]

As a former foster care kid, I can tell you that its very rare that the kid is the problem 100 percent. And that the system is very broken. And everyone blames the kids.

[drkarenbukharibukhari]

Life is hard from the foster support system for kids

[JamesVestal-dzqm]

I would face housing needs as a chemist and chemical engineer if I weren't living at my parents house.

[Tea_]

I noticed ocs is more geared on how to pour gas onto the fire instead of water!

[veronicasakik]

There are some kids when u get them that are so messy up no matter how much love or safety u give them they turn your house up side down and people and family are seeing it it's hard . When u try to help but there are no progress

[LisaPhilliph]

My children were taken in April of 2024 because we lost our apartment since then they've been abused and neglected I've had to call DCF twice on Foster Care parents and case managers working on my case neglecting and abusing verbally abusing my children recently in court I sat there and I heard nothing but lies recover up the abuse and neglect from the foster parents I'm in the still in the process of trying to get my children back and I need help

[allysmith]

I've been thinking, why are foster parents earning a salary? Money is too dangerous in this system. Food and supplies should be issued rather than money, to weed out the bad people.

[sharpaycutie]

People need to stop looking at a Foster care system as replacement for a family.

But in many ways can it improve.

One way is to Listen to the children: the child can be in control, they can voice whom they’re comfortable with whom they’re not comfortable with and things don’t always have to be dire. It just has to be making the child comfortable.

Because they’re out of very vulnerable development age and if you want responsible, emotionally, healthy adults eventually or even teenagers you’re going to have to set that foundation for them to be emotionally, healthy, and safe as children.

Stop splitting up siblings.
Idk why they keep doing this but their family and they should be raised together and don’t let foster parents break them up . They’re raising kids not puppies so separation hurts HUMAN BEINGS 10x more than a dog that don’t know or care.
And stop telling the workers not to care. Stop removing the humanity from the job.
We have become so good at a removing humanity form every single job possible.
The Law, Tecahers, Customer Servuce! It’s TOO much!
We need humanity especially for this job!
Cuz these kids need people that care!

[StartUppp]

Why not just give actual parents money or supplies to help them?

[debbieanderson]

I read 30 out of 50 states used Careportal. What about the other 20?

[amys]

Amazing the difference one person can make! I know it's different in other states with poverty being associated with neglect and disproportionate number of black/brown children being removed for poverty. But, in my state it is drugs and mental health. So, so many kids removed. Crazy that it took that lady a year to get her kids back when she wasn't present/she didn't harm them. Once they are found CINA...there is no urgency to return. Court cases scheduled 6 months out.

[veronicasakik]

The amount of money they give you is nothing compared to put up with the kids the doctor's appointments all the scheduling everything you got to do You're not pay you enough to deal with these children and then when you do with the kids and help them out it's not the kids only give you sometimes heartache or the situation of the thought of the care system gives you the heartache even when you try to do good for the children so it's not just about the money people don't do just for the money

[rachelle_banks]

BROAD-WAY! Get there, Ms. Lisa. You would be fabulous in that space.
Want help, reach out to me.