Roots of Resilience Collective Newsletter: May
Flying into Summer!
Summer is almost here, and everything around us is growing—including ROFRC! As the days get longer and brighter, we're blossoming with new initiatives, partnerships, and impact. Read on to see what we’ve been up to and how you can get involved!
Honoring Foster Parents and Mental Health Awareness Month
May is both Foster Parent Appreciation Month and Mental Health Awareness Month—two causes that deeply impact Black children and families.
🖤 Supporting Black Foster Families
Did you know that 34% of Black Americans have seriously considered becoming foster parents, compared to just 23% of other racial/ethnic groups?
Yet, systemic bias and historical distrust in the child welfare system create barriers that prevent many from taking that step.
At ROFRC, we’re working to bridge these gaps—supporting Black families and fostering environments where Black children are seen, nurtured, and empowered.
📖 Read More from Gallup & Kidsave
🧠 Black Mental Health Matters
Black Americans face higher rates of depression, suicide ideation, and emotional distress—yet are less likely to access care due to stigma, under-diagnosis, and lack of culturally responsive providers.
Black women, in particular, often experience symptoms of depression differently, leading to missed diagnoses and unmet needs.
📖 Learn More in This NYU Study
👉🏾 Follow us on social media this month to learn how you can support mental health and Black foster families.
May Shout-Outs: Teachers, Nurses, & Mother Figures
This month, we’re celebrating the incredible people who nurture, teach, and heal our communities:
🧑🏾🏫 Teacher Appreciation Week
🩺 Nurse Appreciation Week
🌸 Mother’s Day
Whether you’re shaping young minds, keeping families healthy, or pouring love and strength into others as a mother or mother figure—we see you, we appreciate you, and we thank you.
Take a moment this month to say thank you to the teachers, nurses, and caregivers in your life. A small gesture can mean the world. 💐
Community Tool Highlight: Stay Informed
Looking to take action? These powerful tools and resources can help:
📘 Black Foster Youth Matter – A Resource Guide
This guide shares:
- A historical overview of Black youth in foster care
- Best practices and policy recommendations
- Resources to support Black families and youth
🏛 Executive Order Tracker by CBC Foundation
Stay up to date on federal policy changes that impact Black communities. This tool provides:
- Legal status of executive actions
- In-depth impact analysis
- Congressional Black Caucus responses
Have a favorite resource or tool? Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to share it!
Welcome Our New Board Member!
We’re excited to welcome Makeba Jones as our newest board member and Board Secretary!
Makeba brings strong leadership, a deep commitment to community, and prior secretary experience from her church.
She shared:
"What made me want to join ROFRC is the vision and the mission. I’m all for Prevention, Intervention, Preservation, and Aftercare for minorities – and directly giving back to my community."
We’re honored to have her spirit and dedication on our team.
🚨 We’re also seeking board members!
We’re currently looking for:
- Vice Chair
- Treasurer
- 1 At-Large Member
If you or someone you know is passionate about our mission, reach out to us at [email protected].
Building the Future of ROFRC
We’re laying the foundation for sustainable growth and community impact. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:
✅ Incorporation Progress
Our Board has reviewed and approved our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws—we're now awaiting legal filing to make it official!
🤝 Community Partnerships
We’re connecting with local organizations in Siouxland (Iowa and Nebraska) to assess needs and offer culturally responsive support. Our goal is to build strong, trust based relationships that reflect the unique strengths and challenges of each community we serve.
📚 Program Development (Coming Soon!)
We're designing Afrocentric training and support programs, including:
- Parenting Classes on navigating bias
- Foster Parent Training
- Child Welfare 101
- Trauma-Informed Care for professionals
- Holistic Child Development
- Family Preservation & Reunification
- Culturally Relevant Training grounded in African-centered perspectives
🎨 Rebranding in Progress
A new ROFRC logo is on the way—stay tuned!
📧 Got a partnership idea? Email us: [email protected]
ROFRC in the Community
We’re not just talking about change—we’re showing up. ROFRC will be attending events, volunteering, and engaging with local communities year-round.
📧 Know of an event we should be at? Let us know: [email protected]
Stay Connected: Follow Us on Social Media!
We’re now active on Facebook!
Follow Roots of Resilience Collective to stay in the loop on:
- Black history spotlights
- Program updates
- Community and Advocacy news
This month: Foster Parent & Mental Health Awareness
Next month: PRIDE + Juneteenth Celebrations 🎉
Take Action with ROFRC
Here are three powerful ways to make an impact this month:
✔️ Write a Thank You Note – Show appreciation for a foster parent, teacher, nurse, or mental health professional in your life. A few kind words go a long way.
✔️ Share a Resource – Post an article or resource about mental health in the Black community or Black youth in foster care. You never know who it might help.
✔️ Support a Black-Owned Business – Economic empowerment is key to community resilience. Shop local and share your experience to uplift Black entrepreneurs; Community uplift starts here.
Together, we’re planting seeds of change.
Let’s grow this movement, one act of love and justice at a time. 🌱
With gratitude,
The Roots of Resilience Collective Team