Foster Care & Adoptive Association of Oklahoma

YEAR FOUNDED – 2017

fcao.org

Business Model, Theory of Change

FCAO’s key programs include the Foster Parent Mentorship Program, Dream BIG and
Community Support. The Mentorship Program pairs experienced foster parents
(“mentors”) with newly approved foster parents (“mentees”) for a year-long structured
mentorship term. Our mentors provide invaluable guidance and support, beginning
before the mentees’ first foster child placement or shortly after. This program promotes
family stability, nurtures confidence, and empowers foster parents to meet the needs of
the children in their care with compassion and resilience. FCAO has served over 250
traditional foster families and recently launched a pilot program to serve kinship
families, expanding our reach to meet caregivers where they are.

Biggest Organizational Needs

Our long-term goal is to expand our
impact beyond Oklahoma, sharing our model and values in ways that strengthen child
welfare systems and bring our proven methods of retention to other states.

Redemptive Opportunity

The
majority of the families we work with are rooted in OKC, and they heavily rely on the
resources the city provides. From social services to educational opportunities and
mental health support, Oklahoma City serves as the foundation that sustains and
strengthens these families. We firmly believe that foster care is inherently a city issue —
one that calls for a united effort to support our local community. By investing in our city
and its people, we can ensure the well-being of our most vulnerable children and create
a future where every child in care is given the stability, love, and opportunities they
deserve. Supporting Oklahoma City means supporting the core of our mission and the
families who rely on it. Asking someone to welcome a child into their home—a child
whose trauma they did not cause—is not a request we take lightly. We understand the
weight of this commitment, which is why we stand alongside these families, walking
with them every step of the way.

Sarah Herrian

Contact: Sarah.Herrian@fcao.org