foster care

Trump Administration Provides Practical Financial Tools for Children in Foster Care

First Lady Melania Trump announced the establishment of “Fostering the Future Accounts” at the United States Treasury on Thursday.

It is a new initiative intended to help children in the foster care system begin saving and investing.

“For the first time, children in foster care will have access to a dedicated savings and investment vehicle,” Mrs. Trump told those gathered. “Fostering the Future Accounts gives foster children the same chance for asset ownership and long-term wealth building as any other American child.”

Created in cooperation and coordination with the U.S. Treasury, 23 states have already pledged to make the accounts part of their foster care system of care. 

“Now is the time for everyone to act,” said the first lady. “All 50 states should pledge to protect America’s foster youth.  Let’s elevate America’s children above politics. I urge every Governor and business leader in America to help fund these accounts.”

The governors who have already pledged their support include Kay Ivey (Alabama), Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Arkansas), Ron DeSantis (Florida), Brian Kemp (Georgia), Brad Little (Idaho), Mike Braun (Indiana), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Jeff Landry (Louisiana), Tate Reeves (Mississippi), Mike Kehoe (Missouri), Greg Gianforte (Montana), Jim Pillen (Nebraska), Joe Lombardo (Nevada), Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire), Kelly Armstrong (North Dakota), Mike DeWine (Ohio), Kevin Stitt (Oklahoma), Henry McMaster (South Carolina), Larry Rhoden (South Dakota), Bill Lee (Tennessee), Greg Abbott (Texas), Spencer Cox (Utah) and Patrick Morrisey (West Virginia).

All are Republican governors.

Children will be permitted to access the money in the accounts as adults. If the idea of setting up bank accounts for children sounds familiar, it’s because the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which was passed and signed into law last year, included “Trump Accounts” for minors. The legislation calls for a one-time $1,000 federal contribution for children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. It also allows parents and grandparents to contribute up to $5,000 per year and employers to contribute up to $2,500 annually tax-free.

As Focus on the Family has repeatedly highlighted, children in the foster care system face a myriad of unique challenges, none of which are their fault and yet they’re the ones left to navigate and overcome them – often for a lifetime. 

The financial burdens they face are very real and accelerate and multiply as they age out of the foster care system. From coming up with a security deposit for an apartment to covering basic necessities, they don’t enjoy the luxury of a financially secure parent that so many young adults take for granted. Instead, children in the foster care system often fall into a poverty spiral that many find difficult to climb out of.

“Fostering the Future accounts help create the conditions where liberty can flourish,” shared Mrs. Trump. “Success is not about how many benefits a person receives, but rather about how much independence they achieve.”

We enthusiastically applaud the Trump administration’s laser focus on providing tangible and practical tools to support children and parents in America’s foster care system.

Bananas Foster: The Savannah-Based Organization Shaping Children’s Lives

It’s likely you’ve heard of the Savannah Bananas – baseball’s version (of a sort) of the Harlem Globetrotters. Originally started as a Texas-based summer college baseball team, the Bananas are about as far from the traditional game as you could get.

And that’s exactly how owner Jesse Cole wants it.

Called “The Greatest Show in Sports,” the bright yellow uniformed players don’t just throw, hit, and field – they also dance, do flips, and are even threatening to take the field via parachute after skydiving from an airplane. They’re an exhibition team who puts on highly choreographed stunts amid playing baseball – and they’re doing it all these days in front of massive, sold-out stadiums.

“We don’t sell tickets,” says Jesse Cole. “We create memories.”

For fans, those memories include attending games with family and friends consisting of multiple generations. It’s watching the world’s only breakdancing first base coach, and taking in the “Banana Nanas,” a senior citizen dance team, and the “Banana Splitz,” a youth dance team.

Then there’s the “Banana Baby” – a cute-as-a-button infant from the area that’s spotlighted each game and wears … wait, you guessed it – a banana costume.

You might think that Jesse Cole and his squad are exhibitionists obsessed with putting on entertaining shows – but that would be only partially true.

Jesse and his wife, Emily, feel an intense obligation to use their platform for good – including allowing Banana players to openly express their convictions regarding how critical it is for followers of Jesus to put feet to their faith. 

The Bananas’ Robert Anthony Cruz recently talked about how many on the team gather for a weekly Bible study. 

“There’s nothing that crazy happening here — we are just broken people who find great joy and peace and rest knowing that our lives are not about us,” he said. “The world doesn’t revolve around us. Speaking for myself, the more the spotlight is put on me, the more I realize the spotlight is meant to be put on the Giver of all things.”

He then added, “May Christ be magnified.”

That commitment to openness and service has led the Coles to launch “Bananas Foster” – a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging families to prayerfully and thoughtfully consider becoming foster parents.

The Coles, who are licensed foster parents themselves in addition to having one biological son, have adopted two girls. “The goal of foster care is to just walk alongside these kids and these families until they can reunify safely with their biological family,” said Emily. 

But because that often doesn’t happen, there are lots of children in a desperate need of a stable, forever family. Given the Coles’ familiarity with the foster care system, Emily possesses a burning desire to highlight what Focus on the Family’s “Wait No More”ministry has been communicating for years:

In America today, there are over 400,000 children in foster care, and over 100,000 of them are available for adoption.

“The longer we wait [to do something], the longer these kids will wait,” says Emily. “Adoption had always been on my heart. I don’t know one specific reason why. It just always felt like if I had room in the house or love to give, why not welcome somebody in who needed that?”

Talking recently with podcaster Graham Bensinger, Emily shared some background on the Savannah Bananas’ decision to begin encouraging fans to foster and adopt.

“I think when companies get to a position where they have a platform as large as we’ve been fortunate to get with the Bananas, it comes along with the responsibility to do good in the world,” she said. “And so, of course, Jesse comes up with the best name in the middle of the night: ‘Bananas Foster.’ He literally wakes me up and says, ‘I’ve got the name!’ We’ve been talking about wanting to marry these things.”

“Bananas Foster” is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that gets talked about at every game. Thousands of fans have responded. Many have not only signed up to be foster parents, but hundreds have begun the adoption process.

“What if in 10, 20, 30 years, there’s a waitlist in this country of people that want to be foster families?” Jesse said. “And I believe we can do it.”

Families that have chosen to foster children are featured at every Bananas game, and after being introduced receive a standing ovation. 

“We’re creating joy every night for people, but we know about this need in foster care,” reflected Emily. “Fortunately, we have this platform now, that we saw an opportunity to be able to use our platform to talk about something that is a topic in society that’s not touched on a lot.”

Anybody who has watched the intentionality of the Savannah Bananas and has witnessed the determination of Jesse Cole, knows the ball club will follow through on their promise and commitment to help find forever homes for children in the foster care system.

Indiana Protects Religious Freedom of Adoptive and Foster Care Families

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a bill on Wednesday protecting families and faith-based adoption and foster care organizations from discrimination based on their sincerely held religious beliefs.

The bill (HB 1389) stipulates that state government agencies may not discriminate against any adoptive or foster parent “who raises, or intends to raise, a child in a manner consistent with [their] sincerely held religious beliefs.”

The Indiana Senate passed the bill by an overwhelming 44-5 margin on Feb. 17; the state House passed the legislation by an 84-12 margin on Feb. 19.

“Every child deserves a loving home that can provide them stability and opportunities to grow,” Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Greg Chafuen said in a statement after the governor signed the bill.

“The sad reality is that the government in some states has discriminated against people of faith, allowing vulnerable children to suffer,” he added.

The bill’s enactment comes as thousands of families have had their right to religious freedom eroded. Multiple states have adopted policies requiring foster and adoptive parents to affirm a child’s “sexual orientation,” “gender identity” or “gender expression” as a condition for adopting or fostering.

These policies have led to other states – including Arkansas and Kansas – to enact legal protections for faith-based foster and adoptive families; while other states – like Vermont – have reversed their discriminatory policies after being sued.

Policies that discriminate against Christian families are especially foolhardy because they eliminate potential families who are most likely to want to foster or adopt.

As the Daily Citizen has previously reported, Christians are far more likely to foster or adopt than the rest of the population; 65% of foster parents attend church weekly compared with 40% of Americans generally.

Chafuen added,

Thankfully, Indiana has taken critical steps to prioritize the well-being of kids by prohibiting state and local government officials from discriminating against adoption and foster care providers and parents simply because of their religious beliefs and moral convictions. …
By signing this law, Gov. Braun is ensuring that Hoosier children benefit from as many adoption and foster care agencies as possible – faith-based and non-faith-based.

Last year, Gov. Braun declared November Adoption Month in Indiana, thanking the Hoosiers who opened their hearts and homes to adopt over 1,200 children last year alone.

We applaud Gov. Braun and the Indiana state legislators who recognize the importance of Christians being involved in the foster care and adoption system and chose to protect their First Amendment right to religious freedom.

To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

Through Wait No More’s Suitcase Bundle ministry, children in foster care are provided their own suitcase — for their belongings — as well as a teddy bear, handwritten letter and age-appropriate Bible. The suitcase bundle is a simple way to offer dignity, comfort and hope to children in scary, lonely situations.

Related articles and resources:

Wait No More

Wait No More Suitcase Bundle

Transforming Lives Through Foster Care

What You Can Do to Help Kids in Foster Care

Changing the World Through Adoption

Foster Care: A Step of Faith

When Government is Hostile to Christian Foster Parents

Vermont Win for Children, Foster Families and Religious Freedom

Photo from Getty Images.

Vermont Win for Children, Foster Families and Religious Freedom

The Vermont foster care system revoked a policy requiring foster parents to affirm a child’s “sexual orientation,” “gender identity” or “gender expression.” 

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) represented two Christian families who sued the state after the Vermont Department for Children and Families revoked their foster care licenses because their religious beliefs kept them from affirming and supporting gender ideology. 

The department had put in place policies that discriminate against those with beliefs that diverge from false and damaging homosexual and “transgender” ideologies. Its new policy prohibits viewpoint discrimination.

ADF Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse stated in a press release: 

This is an incredible victory for children in Vermont’s foster-care system. No parent should be forced to lie to a vulnerable child about who they are, much less promote irreversible and life-altering procedures that don’t have any proven health benefits.

The Christian legal aid organization described the two families who filed the lawsuit: 

Pastor Brian Wuoti and his wife, Katy, became foster parents in 2014 and adopted two brothers from foster care.
Pastor Bryan Gantt and his wife, Rebecca, became foster parents in 2016 and specialized in caring for children born with drug dependencies or with fetal alcohol syndrome. The Gantts have since adopted three children. 

ADF explained that despite the real need in Vermont for more foster parents, and in spite of their success in fostering and adopting children, “Vermont officials revoked their licenses in 2022 and 2024 because of their religious beliefs against gender ideology.”

The couples’ initial complaint quoted case workers who lauded them as foster parents: 

When the Wuotis tried to renew their license in 2022, one case worker called them “AMAZING” and said she “probably could not hand pick a more wonderful foster family.”

But when the Wuotis stated they were Christians and that “they could not say or do anything that went against faith-informed views about human sexuality, Vermont revoked their license anyway.”

Likewise with the Gantts. Because of their good record with infants affected by drugs and alcohol, “In 2023, the Department asked them to take an emergency placement involving a baby about to be born to a woman who was homeless and addicted to drugs.”

The complaint explained what happened next:  

But just before Bryan and Rebecca agreed to do so, the Department circulated an email explaining that families must accept the State’s orthodoxy about gender fluidity “even if the foster parents hold divergent personal opinions or beliefs.” 
The Gantts responded that they would unconditionally love and support any children placed with them, but they would not forsake their religious beliefs that people should value their God-given bodies. The Department refused to let the Gantts take the baby in need and instead revoked their license. 

As if an infant from a homeless and drug-addicted mother has a “sexual orientation,” “gender identity” or “gender expression” — and as if the baby even cares about the foster parents beliefs about these issues. 

Rather than helping children, the state chose to impose homosexual and transgender ideologies, violating the couples’ freedoms of speech, religion and association. 

The lawsuit explained that in 2020, the Vermont Department for Children and Families adopted Policy 76, “Supporting and Affirming LGBTQ Children & Youth,” which “provides internal guidance for Department staff on placing children who express an LGBT identity, and training foster families on how to support the child’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (‘SOGIE’).” 

The Policy stated “Parents, family members, and resource families should be encouraged to: 

  • Support children’s identities even if it feels uncomfortable.
  • Bring young people to LGBTQ organizations and events in the community.
  • Support young people’s gender expression.
  • Believe that youth can have a happy future as an LGBTQ adult.

In addition, Policy 76 instructed caregivers to use “appropriate pronouns [and a child’s] preferred name” to promote a child’s “Cognitive and Social-Emotional Competence.” 

Because of the lawsuit, the old policy has been rescinded, and new guidance for Residential Licensing and Special Investigations (RLSI) of foster care applicants has been created. 

Effective February 26, 2026, applications will still include an application question, “I am open to caring for a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) child/youth.” 

But then the RLSI guidance goes on to state: 

  • Conversations with applicants should focus on caregiving capacity — not beliefs.
  • Safety – physical and emotional – is the core licensing focus.
  • Licensing evaluates behavior, not viewpoints.

Now, the RLSI specifically says, “Licensing does not require”: 

  • Endorsement or affirmation of specific identities.
  • Agreement with certain viewpoints.
  • Changes to personal, cultural, religious, moral, or philosophical beliefs.
  • Use of particular vocabulary, prescribed language, or preferred pronouns related to gender identity, sexual orientation, or identity expression.
  • Answers to certain hypothetical ideological or future-speech scenarios.

Other states, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts and Washington, violate free speech and religious freedom by requiring applicants for foster parenting to adhere to LGBT ideology. 

But this case, along with an Oregon case where a federal court upheld a Christian mother’s right to adopt, rejecting Oregon’s unconstitutional gender ideology mandate, gives hope that these egregious state policies will be overturned. 

The Christian Alliance for Orphans reports, “Christians are more likely to foster or adopt than the general population.” 

And the Bipartisan Policy Center adds, 

While under 40% of Americans attend church services weekly, 65% of foster parents do. Barna Research found that practicing Christians are twice as likely to foster or adopt than the general population. They are also more likely to welcome sibling groups, older youth, and children with special needs.

Foster care laws and regulations that promote homosexual and transgender ideology discriminate against people of faith, and they harm children who could be fostered or adopted into good homes. 

The Daily Citizen is grateful for Christian organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom and California Family Council that are fighting back against these egregious, damaging policies that violate constitutional freedoms and place children at risk.

To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

Through Wait No More’s Suitcase Bundle ministry, children in foster care are provided their own suitcase — for their belongings — as well as a teddy bear, handwritten letter and age-appropriate Bible. The suitcase bundle is a simple way to offer dignity, comfort and hope to children in scary, lonely situations.

Related articles and resources:

Wait No More

Wait No More Suitcase Bundle

Transforming Lives Through Foster Care

What You Can Do to Help Kids in Foster Care

Changing the World Through Adoption

Foster Care: A Step of Faith

Proposed Executive Order Would Protect Parental Rights

When Government is Hostile to Christian Foster Parents

First Lady Welcomes Foster and Adoptive Families to the White House

Arkansas & Kansas Enact Protections for Faith-Based Adoption, Foster Care

States Exclude Christian Parents From Foster Care

Photo: Rebecca Gantt with one of her children, from Alliance Defending Freedom.

Secretary Scott Turner: ‘Be Intentional About Pouring Your Life into the Next Generation’

It’s a difficult and tragic fact that upwards of 20,000 youth “age out” of the foster care system each year.

To “age out” (usually at 18) means to no longer be under the legal custody of the state.

Without a permanent family to help guide and protect the newly liberated young person, these individuals face enormous pressures. From finding and paying for a place to live to buying food, planning their education and navigating the normal challenges of life, many wind up friendless, homeless and addicted.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner recognizes and appreciates this challenge, and in his role at HUD, is committed to doing something about it.

Secretary Turner recently told CBN’s Kelly Wright, “The first lady and I, her team and our team here at HUD, have partnered to provide $25 million to the ‘Foster Youth to Independence’ initiative.”

This effort, overseen by First Lady Melania Trump, provides housing vouchers for young people between the ages of 18 and 24. In addition to helping them find and fund an apartment, they also provide various supportive services including career counseling and job placement, education assistance and financial advice.

“Having a safe place, a home, to live is a start,” reflected Secretary Turner. “But we’re looking at this from a holistic standpoint to help, really, the next generation of leaders, as they land on their feet, aging out of foster care.”

The initiative was actually started in 2019 by then Secretary Dr. Ben Carson. Over 5,000 young men and women have participated in the program.

Secretary Turner added:

How blessed are we to have a first lady who has a heart for foster youth and wants to make this a priority and partner with HUD and with other administration officials to make sure that we’re taken care of and invested in our foster youth.

We should concentrate on that part of our society. But also these foster youth oftentimes are overlooked because they’re not in the public eye or they’re not, you know, of top priority to many general families that our kids are. And so I would encourage people to get educated on foster youth, get educated on where they are, what their desires are.

The realities facing these young people are sobering:

  • 97% of all young adults who age out of foster care will face chronic poverty in their lifetime
  • 81% of the young men who age out of foster care become incarcerated
  • 71% of the young women who age out experience a pregnancy before they turn 21, and half of those babies end up in foster care as well

Focus on the Family has long been committed to finding permanent solutions to these chronic challenges facing children who are at risk. Of course the very best way is to help find forever homes for the boys and girls currently in the foster care system long before they age out. 

From the beginning, our “Wait No More” program has helped to raise awareness of the over 100,000 children available and waiting to be adopted. We regularly hear testimonials from families who have adopted and then launched their kids into the world. They often share details that most people would never think about. For example, one twenty-something shared she now had a mother to call for advice when fixing the Thanksgiving turkey. When you age out, who do you call? 

Secretary Turner and his team are concerned with helping meet the short-term needs of those in foster care and those on the verge of independence. But they’re also looking beyond the immediate and considering the long-term consequences of social dysfunction – and the exponential benefit that comes when you address the foundational issues at the root of healthy families.

“If you change your life, you change a generation,” shared Secretary Turner. “I would encourage the people of America to be intentional about pouring your life into the next generation, as God calls you to do.”

Images from Getty.