As National Foster Care Month comes to an end, there is one final way community members can make a difference in the lives of children in foster care – and we saved the best for last! Becoming a foster parent is the ultimate way to make a direct and lasting impact on the life of a vulnerable child in foster care. To put it simply, there are not enough foster parents! This is true at Ascentria, in Massachusetts, and sadly across the country. Having a pool of diverse and committed foster parents is key to ensuring that children are in a loving setting that is in their best interests, whether short-term or long-term. Children of all kinds are in the foster care system, and so we need foster parents of all kinds, too. If you have ever felt called to become a foster parent, now is the time! To take the first step, consider booking a time online to speak with one of our dedicated foster parent recruiters about our unique Ascentria foster care programs. Whether you are curious to learn more or actively interested in taking the next step, this is a no commitment time to talk and have your questions answered. Visit our Bookings page to learn more: https://outlook.office.com/owa/calendar/LearnMoreAboutAscentriaFosterCare@ascentria.org/bookings/?ismsaljsauthenabled #FosterCareFriday #AscentriaFosterCare #FosterCareMonth (fb)

Today was the Children's League of Massachusetts annual State House Advocacy Day! Ascentria Foster Care staff attended to speak to legislators on key issues affecting child welfare in Massachusetts. Most excitingly, one of our very own staff was recognized! Congratulations to Diego Canil Ordonez, Bilingual Youth and Family Specialist to the Unaccompanied Children Program, for receiving the 2025 Direct Service Award from CLM! This award acknowledges Diego for his extraordinary commitment to improving the lives of children and families in Massachusetts, showcasing strong examples of advocacy, leadership, and innovation in supporting children and families, and dedicating an admirable length of service to the child welfare sector. Diego has served the children of Ascentria for more than 13 years, both as a volunteer for 10 years and a full-time staff for the last 3 years. As a case manager for the Unaccompanied Children Program, Diego is responsible for a caseload of 10 youth, supporting them through their adjustment to the United States and foster care placement. In addition to balancing all of his primary duties, Diego has gone above and beyond by volunteering to supervise group outings, overnight camps, and even coaching soccer. Thanks to Diego’s collaboration, the Unaccompanied Children and Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Programs have involved 12 current clients for over two years in a youth led Youth Leadership Council! In the words of his supervisor, “Diego is an incredibly authentic individual. He brings his whole self into his work with this population of unaccompanied children. This shows up in the ways he approaches work with youth on his caseload through the lens of his shared lived experience as both an immigrant and a former foster youth. Diego thoughtfully reframes issues that come up in working with this population in a strengths-based way that has really informed service and treatment planning across our programs.” Congratulations, Diego! Thank you to the Children's League team for hosting this important day, and congratulations to all of the other award recipients, including our local legislators! #AscentriaFosterCare #FosterCareMonth #CLMAdvocacyDay2025 #MaPoli #StandUpForChildren (fb)