Raintree Children and Family Services May 2025 Update

Raintree House is Looking Forward to Summer Fun

The beginning of summer is such a special time at Raintree House. Most years we are fortunate to have girls who have completed their studies and are ready for graduation! We have graduations from Junior and Senior High School. This year we were privileged to have both. Two girls are headed to High School, and one is venturing out after graduating from High School to find her true calling. 

Our girls endure so many challenges that these ordinary normal milestones mean so much to them as well as the staff. This is why we try hard to make it special for them and let them know they achieved this and no one can take it away. We try to garner a since of pride in hopes that they will want to continue their education journey. 

“I can’t wait to go to high school”

~ Raintree Resident

“Thank You for a wonderful graduation lunch!”

~ Raintree Resident

Summer is also our time to have fun! The staff work hard on scheduling the perfect activities to keep the girls engaged and wanting more. Some girls will be going to summer camp, some will be working, and one or two may have to go to summer school. We plan activities around their schedule, so they don’t miss out. A sample of a summer fun week is: The Culture of the Week, Book Club, a visit to a water park or museum, movies, and learning how to cook or bake fun meals. We will do a few weekend day trips to the beach too. The girls as well as staff are excited. It is a great time for the staff and the girls to bond and form fellowships in settings other than the group home. The girls can’t wait till the end of the summer when they get to go on a short trip to Foley, Alabama for a couple of days of shopping, water park follies, amusement park, the beach and eating at Lambert’s!

Shining a Light on Foster Care

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to recognize the vital role that foster families, child welfare professionals, and community partners play in the lives of children and youth in care. At Raintree Children & Family Services, we honor this month by raising awareness about the importance of foster care and recommitting ourselves to supporting the most vulnerable children in our community.

Thanks to all who support children in foster care

Why Foster Care Matters

Every year, thousands of children enter foster care due to abuse, neglect, or family crisis. In our care we deliver stability, compassion, and the opportunity to thrive. Foster Care Awareness Month is a chance to amplify their voices, educate the public, and inspire more individuals and families to become involved, whether through fostering, advocacy, or community support.

Celebrating Foster Care Awareness Month: A Conversation with Raintree Foster Parent

Mrs. Dominique

At Raintree, we are proud to support families who stand as pillars of hope and healing in our community. Among these remarkable families are the Dominiques, who are dedicated foster parents whose journey spans over years. Their story is one of resilience, unconditional love, and life-changing impact. In this Q&A, Mrs. Dominique shares heartfelt advice, meaningful moments from their fostering experience, and why the support of Raintree has made all the difference.

Q: What motivating piece of advice would you offer those deciding if they want to foster?

Mrs. Dominique: Foster care can be a challenge. You have to go in with an open heart and mind. You have to be able to meet the needs of the child. The first priority is to show them love – many children have never experienced love until it is given directly to them. Believe in them. Respect who they are and where they come from. Be that pillar of hope for them. Be the person to build them where they have been broken down and give them the strength and the courage they need to pursue their life dreams. You may never know you can be their future.

Q: What are some of the greatest joys you have experienced in your time fostering children?

Mrs. Dominique: It is a joy to be a foster parent; it is also the hardest and most beautiful path I have walked. My greatest joy is witnessing transformation in the kids, not just in their lives but in mine as well. I didn’t just open my home; I opened my heart. I took in children who were hurting, who couldn’t walk or talk. With time, love, and care, I watched them heal. I’ve poured everything into these children – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Many came to me in fragile conditions, fighting battles no child should ever have to face. I advocated, prayed, and stayed up countless nights. I helped some of them receive organs they desperately needed to survive. Watching them go from barely surviving to running, laughing, and living full lives has been the greatest reward. I was able to adopt some of them. Others, I left an unforgettable mark on their lives.

Mrs. Dominique’s reflection on Raintree:

Our journey has been filled with our lives’ greatest calling – fostering. None of this would have been possible without the support of Raintree. From day one, they have stood by us not just as professionals, but as partners, friends, and family. We never have to face any problem we have with the children in our home alone. If we have to make a late-night call, someone always answers. During months of grief and heartbreak, they reached out to us – not as a formality, but with compassion and care. When we pursued adoptions, they celebrated every step as if their own family was growing. Raintree goes beyond paperwork and policies. They know our children and understand our hearts. They’ve walked us through the hardest days and most beautiful victories. With Raintree, we are not just foster parents, we are part of a family. To anyone considering foster care – know that it will be a challenge but with the right support, it will change your life in the most meaningful way. These children need love, safety, and most of all, they need someone willing to stand beside them no matter what. We’re grateful that we have had the chance to be that person for them and even more grateful we’ve never had to do it alone with Raintree.

Mrs. Dominique’s advice to others desiring to foster:

Every child deserves a second chance to feel safe, seen, and loved. You don’t have to be perfect; you just need to care enough to take that step. Because when we come together, healing happens, and lives change. Everyone can play a role in the life of a child in foster care.

How You Can Help

• Become a Foster Parent: Open your heart and home to a child in need.

Contact Raintree at (504) 899-9045

For more information, please visit https://www.raintreeservices.org/fostercare and/or Foster Parent Inquiry – DCFS

•  Donate: Your generosity helps us provide essentials, enrichment activities, and emergency resources. Donate today at raintreeservices.org/donate

•  Become a Mentor:  Join us in spreading awareness and supporting children in foster care.

For more information, please visit https://www.raintreeservices.org/mentorship

• Follow Raintree on Social Media

Facebook & Instagram: @RaintreeServices

Newsletter Signup: https://www.raintreeservices.org/emaillist

Here are some things to be aware of when supporting children in foster care:

• Just because a child was removed from an unsafe environment and placed in foster care does not mean they will instantly feel safe.

• Be careful not to re-traumatize children placed in foster care. This can be done intentionally or unintentionally.

• Children in foster care may greatly benefit from supportive and engaging peer and adult social connections.

• Children in foster care may require added patience and guidance because they were unable to achieve appropriate age-related milestones.

• Children in foster care may act younger than their chronological age due to the trauma they have endured.

• In some situations, children in foster care will desperately wish to return to the family and environment they were removed from, albeit unsafe.