Fostering Hope Yuma Prepares for “Step Into the Story” Conference
Skylar Heisey
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local nonprofit dedicated to supporting foster and kinship families is inviting the community to come together for a unique and inspiring event next month.
Fostering Hope Yuma will host its annual “Step Into the Story” Conference on September 20, offering a full day of resources, speakers, and support for foster parents, kinship caregivers, and those considering opening their homes to children in need.
Scott Little, president of Fostering Hope Yuma, says the heart of the event is about recognizing the powerful role adults can play in a child’s life.
“Fostering Hope is an organization that supports foster care parents, kinship parents, and people who are investigating or looking into what fostering care might be about. Everybody has a story, and everybody has characters who come in and step out of their story,” Little explained.
Building Support for Families
The conference will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and an exhibit hall designed to connect families with the tools and encouragement they need.
Among the speakers is a boy named Jacob, who grew up in the foster system and moved through 27 different homes before one person stepped in and changed his life.
Organizers hope stories like his will inspire attendees and remind them that it only takes one person’s willingness to “step into the story” to completely change a child’s future.
An Affordable Opportunity
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a cost of just $10 per person. That fee includes lunch, access to all sessions, and entry to the exhibit hall.
Little emphasized that the conference is not only for current foster or kinship parents, but also for anyone who wants to learn more about what the journey looks like and how they might be able to support children in care.
Kinship Caregivers Play a Key Role
Many children who are removed from their homes are cared for by grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives.
Little says kinship families often face unique challenges but also bring a deep sense of stability for children who have already experienced trauma.
How to Register
Those interested in attending can register online at FHYuma.com.
“This conference is really about fostering hope in the city and county of Yuma,” Little said. “We want families to know they’re not alone and that there’s a community ready to support them.”