Episode 36 - How One Nonprofit Is Changing the Foster Care Experience in Indiana

Foster care is hard. Not just emotionally, but practically. Kids often arrive with nothing. Families are stretched thin. Support can feel fragmented or temporary.In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, we sit down with Renae, Executive Director of Resources of Hope, a nonprofit based in Whiteland, Indiana, that is quietly and faithfully wrapping around foster, kinship, and adoptive families with the kind of support that actually meets real needs.Renae shares her own foster care journey, including the painful experience of stepping away from fostering after a difficult placement, and how God used that story to shape her deep empathy and leadership today. From there, we dive into the heart of Resources of Hope and the many ways they are serving families across Indiana.What You’ll Hear in This EpisodeRenee’s Personal Foster Care StoryRenee opens up about her lifelong desire to foster, how she and her husband stepped into foster care in 2017, and the difficult reality that led them to step back. That painful season became the foundation for how she now leads Resources of Hope with compassion, understanding, and a deep respect for foster families.What Resources of Hope Really DoesResources of Hope exists to wrap around foster families for the long haul, not just in a one-time moment of crisis. Their programs are built by listening to foster parents and responding to what families actually need, not what outsiders think they need.The Clothing Boutique (Not Just a Closet)Their largest program is the clothing boutique, which serves an average of 82 children per month. Children receive up to two weeks worth of clothing, including pajamas, socks, shoes, underwear, diapers, hygiene items, bedding, and more.Families can return as children grow or change sizes, because foster care is not static. This ongoing access is a lifeline for families navigating constant change.Teen ConnectA Friday night program for youth ages 12 to 17 in foster, kinship, or adoptive care. Teens share meals, talk through highs and lows, and participate in practical life-skill activities like car care, self-defense, and basic home skills. It is not therapy, but it is meaningful connection and support.Birthday BlessingsEvery child deserves to be celebrated. Resources of Hope provides a full birthday experience in a bag, including new toys, books, clothing or pajamas, party supplies, and a birthday dinner. These bags are intentionally customized and affirm each child’s identity and dignity.Foster Parent Training and Support GroupsResources of Hope offers DCS-approved trainings and monthly support groups that count toward required foster parent hours. One huge differentiator is that they provide childcare, removing one of the biggest barriers foster parents face when trying to attend training.Recharge EventsThese events offer foster parents a few hours of childcare so they can rest, reconnect, or simply breathe. Resources of Hope partners with churches and youth groups to make these nights possible.Butterfly BlessingsRecognizing the lack of support in many rural areas, Resources of Hope launched Butterfly Blessings to bring clothing and resources directly to families up to an hour and a half away. Partnering with churches, they set up pop-up boutiques so families can shop locally and with dignity.Holiday and Community EventsFrom the annual picnic to Hope for the Holidays, these gatherings go far beyond a simple event. Families share meals, shop for every child in their home, receive holiday food, and experience community with others who understand foster care life.Teen Shopping SpreeEach May during Foster Care Awareness Month, teens new to care receive a $200 shopping spree focused on essentials first. Sponsors make this possible by directly funding individual teens.All In for Foster Youth: Casino Night FundraiserResources of Hope’s largest annual fundraiser is the All In for Foster Youth Casino Night, held each March. This event is not only a fun night out, it is a critical source of funding that supports nearly 25 percent of the organization’s annual budget.Casino Night is designed for adults to gather, enjoy great food, play casino-style games, and rally around foster youth in a meaningful way.What to ExpectDinner catered by a local Greenwood catererCasino-style games including poker, blackjack, craps, and more (no experience required)Professional dealers who teach you how to playSilent auction with high-quality items and experiencesPrize drawings at the end of the nightPowerful stories about the impact Resources of Hope is makingHow You Can Participate (https://www.resourcesofhope.org/casinonight)Purchase an individual ticket or a full tableSponsor the event or a specific programDonate an item or experience for the silent auctionAttend, invite friends, and help spread the wordEven if you are not local to Central Indiana, you can still support Casino Night through sponsorships, auction donations, or direct giving.Why This ...