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 7-1-2025
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 Missouri SuN Bucks
Missouri SuN Bucks helps families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer months when school is not in session. Families will get a one-time $120 benefit per qualifying child, that can be used to buy nutritious foods at authorized locations around Missouri.
Most eligible children will receive the benefit automatically and do not need to apply, but households who need to apply must do so by August 31, 2025. Families can use the SuN Bucks Eligibilty Navigator to see if they need to complete an application.
For more information about SuN Bucks, visit the DSS SuN Bucks Website.
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Interested in becoming a Foster Parent Ambassador?
Fill out this form to apply and start mentoring other foster parents in your area!
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Chafee Services
Do you have an older youth in your home? If so, are they participating with Chafee Services through Firefly? Check out the resources below to learn more about Chafee and see how you and the child(ren) in your home can get more involved.
Upcoming Event Flyers
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Missouri Childhood Resource and Referral Center
Please share the information below with your families for assistance with child care, child care subsidy, and other community resources.
The purpose of the Missouri Childhood Resource and Referral (MCRR) Center is to serve families in need of childcare and childcare subsidy, and to assist families and child care providers in need of community resources.
The MCRR Center and its partners will:
- Help families complete the online subsidy application through the Child Care Data System
- Provide regional in-person assistance to families with completing their subsidy applications
- Assist families with child care referrals
- Guide families and child care providers with locating community resources via the Missouri Family Resources site
The MCRR Center and its partners are not responsible for:
- Determining subsidy eligibility for families or child care providers
- Issuing or answering questions regarding subsidy payments
MCRR can be reached at 573-415-8605 or you can learn more on the MCRR website.
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Season 3, Episode 5: "Not all youth are delinquents."
In this episode, the hosts talk with an older youth with experience in the foster care system. Kurtis Dehart shares his story and provides hope to anyone considering fostering or worried about fostering teenagers. He's driven and responsible and shares the importance of helping teens, especially foster youth, become independent and responsible adults. If you've ever considered fostering, you don't want to miss this episode!
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a foster parent, learn how to get started on the DSS website: https://dss.mo.gov/cd/foster-care/becoming-a-foster-parent.htm
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Store firearms and ammunition in locked areas, inaccessible to children.
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Secure firearms in holsters when around foster children.
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No firearms in vehicles with foster children unless securely stored.
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Compliance with all state and federal laws is mandatory.
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Firearms storage is subject to inspection by Children's Division staff.
For detailed information, refer to the statute link.
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Meramec Adventure Ranch: Foster Care Adventure Camps
Foster Youth are invited to participate in an exciting opportunity to experience the great outdoors at Meramec Adventure Ranch in Steelville, Missouri. They will stay in a lodge, learn basic camping skills, cook over an open fire, and do an assortment of outdoor activities helping them to gain confidence in their own abilities.
Although this will be loads of fun for many, some youth may not enjoy cooler weather and outdoor conditions. Please make sure the youth desires to participate in the camp prior to completing an application for the youth.
 For More Information:
Phone: 573-775-5513
Email: bbailey@kvc.org
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KVC Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Adjacent Trainings
Making Sense of Your Worth
July 11 - August 29, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Virtual
"Making Sense of Your Worth" is an 8-week online course designed specifically for foster and adoptive parents who want to strengthen their ability to support children with attachment injuries. Created by HALO Project in Oklahoma City—an official TBRI® Ambassador Organization—this program is rooted in Trust-Based Relational Interventions® (TBRI®) and backed by years of trauma-informed research.
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Overcoming and Preventing Blocked Care
July 11 - August 29, 2025 | 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Virtual
Join KVC for an empowering 8-week online class: "Overcoming and Preventing Blocked Care"—a must for kinship, foster, and adoptive parents who want to reconnect with their children and themselves.
Blocked care happens when the stress of parenting a child with a history of trauma causes a parent’s natural caregiving instincts to shut down. This class gives you tools to recognize it, reverse it, and build secure attachment—even in the hardest moments.
Cultivate Connections
July 19 - September 20, 2025 | Virtual
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or just craving a deeper connection with your child—Cultivate Connection is for you.
This 9-week course is BY parents, FOR parents—designed specifically for foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers navigating the complexities of trauma, attachment, and neurodiversity.
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Kin Conference 2025
Hosted by Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association
July 7-9, 2025 | The Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, MO
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Family Forward’s Development Trauma Center
Several trainings are available to attend!
In-person trainings are located at 11358 Van Cleve Ave, St. Louis, MO.
For questions, email Intake.dept@familyforwardmo.org.
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Foster Parent ID Cards
All Foster Parents should have a Foster Parent ID card. This is provided to you after you are licensed. If you do not have an ID card, please email FosterCare@dss.mo.gov and CD will provide you the application.
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Family Resource Centers
Family Resource Centers are not-for-profit agencies that work with CD to provide support, services, and resources to meet the unique needs of foster, adoptive, relative, and guardianship children and their families.
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CD Wants to Hear from You!
If there is information you would like covered in future Foster Parent Connections Newsletters, please email Abigail.J.Smith@dss.mo.gov.
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