For many foster children, access to something as basic as clothing can be limited. The Bloom Direct program intends to break down geographic barriers faced by foster youth and their families and provide free clothing and essentials to foster children in underserved areas across Georgia.

“We want the children to feel excited when they receive their package, knowing what’s inside was chosen specifically for them,” said Bloom CEO Becky Davenport. “The Bloom Direct program is not just about providing clothing, but making each child feel unique and valued.”

Each child gets to fill out a profile based on age, size, style preferences, and needs. Once the profile is set, a curated selection of clothing is sent to the child’s home. The package includes various items, from everyday essentials to unique pieces intended to make the child feel truly special.

As part of Bloom Direct’s initial pilot program, the first 25 boxes were recently shipped out to foster children in the Department of Family and Children Services Region 9, an area of our state lacking access to resources. The launch of this program is just the beginning. Bloom plans to expand the service in the coming months, reaching more foster children across the state.

“We’re committed to growing this program and reaching as many foster children as possible,” said Bloom Director of Operations Gina Licwinko. “Our hope is that the clothing they receive encourages self-worth and provides them with a source of confidence.”

As the program continues to grow, so does the need for support. Bloom Direct wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our recurring monthly givers, who provided the financial resources to help launch it. Bloom is counting on our community of givers to keep this program funded. If you want to support Bloom Direct, please visit https://bloomfosters.org/donate/. Together, we can deliver hope and confidence to all foster children in Georgia.

As part of this endeavor, Bloom is excited to offer the Triple P Positive Parenting Program as a tool to help parents learn practical strategies to build strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behavior, and prevent problems from developing. Backed by more than 35 years of research, Triple P is known as one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs in the world. It has been used in more than 25 countries across different cultures and socio-economic groups and with many different kinds of family structures.

As a behavioral family intervention based on social learning principles, Triple P aims to enhance the knowledge, skills, confidence, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness of parents; promote nurturing, safe, engaging, non-violent, and low-conflict environments for children; and promote children’s social, emotional, language, intellectual, and behavioral competencies through positive parenting practices (2022). Triple P also provides participants with a safe and supportive environment to learn these skills with other parents while sharing the joys and challenges of parenting together.

Bloom currently offers two formats of Triple P. The first is Level 3 Discussion Groups, which consist of 2-hour small group discussions around commonly encountered parenting problems such as disobedience, fighting and aggression, mealtimes, bedtimes, and managing shopping with children. Teen discussion groups cover topics such as getting teenagers to cooperate, coping with teenagers’ emotions, building teenagers’ survival skills, and reducing family conflict. Parents can attend as many discussion groups as they like, whether that includes one 2-hour session or multiple sessions throughout the year.

Bloom also offers Triple P Level 4 Group. This format provides a broad-based parenting intervention delivered over eight weeks. It includes five (2-hour) group sessions and three (15- to 30-minute) individual phone consultations to assist parents with independent problem-solving while they practice skills at home.

Regardless of the format parents choose, each family will receive resources and support from an accredited practitioner who aims to partner with them on their parenting journey.

Bloom’s Triple P program can be provided both virtually and in-person with a wide range of parenting groups, including Bloom foster, kinship, and adoptive parents across Georgia, as well as biological parents and caregivers in Fayette and Spalding County through Bloom’s Family Resource Center.  For more information about joining a Triple P group, email Bloom’s Clinical Director, Dr. Katie New, at k.new@bloomouryouth.org. We look forward to serving Bloom families through this exciting new program!

Written by Katie New, Bloom Clinical Director

About the Author: Katie New works at Bloom as the Clinical Director where she oversees the implementation of therapeutic services, facilitates training of foster parents and staff, and ensures clinical fidelity to trauma-informed care. Katie is dually licensed as a Licensed Master Social Worker and Registered Nurse with a passion for serving children and families who have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect. Katie has a Doctor of Education degree in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Social Work with Children, Adolescents and Families from the University of Alabama.

The journey began in 2013 when Beth was working on designing a commercial space for SMC3, a logistics transportation company located in Peachtree City. That same year, SMC3 generously donated an 8,000-square-foot building in Fayetteville that became the headquarters of The Bloom Closet. Through this connection, Beth was introduced to Bloom’s CEO, Becky Davenport, who wanted to use the new space to create a place where children in foster care could shop for clothing without the stigmas often associated with hand-me-downs and donations.

“I was thrilled to collaborate with such a creative designer who truly grasped what we were trying to achieve,” said Bloom CEO Becky Davenport. “Our goal was not just about creating a visually appealing space but building an experience that would make every child who walks through our doors feel special.”

Inspired by Becky’s vision, Beth eagerly accepted the challenge. The result was a fun and inviting environment where foster children feel respected and valued. The space was brought to life through bright, welcoming colors, walls adorned with murals, and a life-like tree extending from the floor through the ceiling. Each designated area is tailored to specific age groups and genders and has its own distinctive design theme.

Another unique aspect of the Bloom Closet’s design is the inclusion of personal touches throughout. A small play area with toys and books is provided for younger children, ensuring the shopping experience is enjoyable for all ages. Additionally, each child is greeted by a Bloom staff member who assists them in finding clothing that suits their style and needs.

Beth’s latest project for Bloom was unveiled this past May with the opening of a second Bloom Closet location in Rome, Georgia. Her design for the new space centers around a camping theme. The space is accented with camping gear, stuffed animal taxidermy, a canoe hanging from the ceiling, and wallpaper depicting a forest scene, bringing the outdoors inside.

“I wanted to do something different to make it fun and exciting,” said President of Blue Fox Designs Beth Anderson. “We used different colors, patterns, and wallpaper to make it feel like you are on an adventure. The themes are designed to inspire and uplift the children who visit.”

The impact of Beth’s designs can be seen in the joy on children’s faces as they shop at the Bloom Closet. The children leave with new clothes and a renewed sense of confidence, dignity, and self-worth. If you would like to join us in making a difference in the lives of foster children, please consider donating to the Bloom Closet; visit https://bloomfosters.org/our-programs/bloom-closet/.

Help us by providing students with the tools needed to start them on their way! You can conveniently support foster children and their families by donating essential school supplies at Bloom’s first-ever Donation Drive-a-Thon! Join us on July 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for this drive-through event, which is a quick and easy way to drop off items that will help foster children heading back to school this fall. Your donations will ensure that these children have everything they need to succeed in school and continue their academic improvement.

School supplies can be dropped off at 115 Marquis Drive, Fayetteville, or 150 Huddleston Road, Peachtree City. NEW items needed include:

• Spiral notebooks
• Composition notebooks
• Markers
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Backpacks
• Highlighters
• Pens and Pencils

When you donate, you’ll receive Bloom swag as a token of our thanks for your generosity in supporting foster children across Georgia. If you cannot attend our Drive-a-Thon event, please consider donating items through Bloom’s Amazon Wish List by clicking HERE. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of foster children!

For the estimated 80% of Americans who have siblings, many can attest to the importance their sibling relationship has on their life. And while researchers and child welfare professionals alike have begun to understand the vital role positive sibling connections plays in a child’s felt safety, health, and development, it is estimated that anywhere from 50-80% of children in foster care have a sibling from who they are separated. At Bloom, we seek to provide safe, loving homes for children experiencing foster care and when possible, this includes striving to keep siblings together.

When children enter foster care, they are often separated from everything they have ever known – their home, their family, their school, and friends. Even though this is for their safety and well-being, it is still scary, upsetting, and traumatic. The situation can be exasperated even more if a child is separated from their siblings and placed in different homes. That is why it is vital to keep siblings together whenever possible. When it’s not possible, efforts should be made to maintain their sibling bond through visits, phone calls, and other means. Research has found that preserving these sibling connections leads to better outcomes for children in care, such as greater placement stability, fewer emotional and behavioral difficulties, increased well-being, improved school performance, and better adjustment to the new environment of their foster home.

I know firsthand the significant impact a sibling relationship can have on a child in foster care. When I was eight years old, I was removed from my biological mother and placed in a guardianship placement. When I was 11, I moved from that placement to a private, long-term group home placement, where I would remain until graduating high school and heading off to college. While in this long-term placement, I had two different sets of full-time house parents. I never knew my father and my relationship with my mother remains tumultuous to this day. But there is one person who has been a steady figure throughout the course of my life. Someone who was with me at each placement, and even after he graduated high school and went to college and then the military, he still checked in on me. That someone is my older brother, Robby. I am thankful that we had adults in our lives who grasped the importance of keeping us together even when we could not safely remain with our mother. While there have been times of uncertainty or anxiety in my life, as anyone who grew up in foster care can attest, Robby has always been a certainty that I can count on. I know I am never truly alone as long as I have my brother.   

If you’ve been thinking about fostering but haven’t quite committed, I hope that this may be the final push you need. Think about sibling relationships in your life. No one knows you better than your siblings – they are your best friends and have been by your side since birth. Now imagine being separated from them during a time when you need them the most. You can make a difference by helping us keep siblings together. Consider opening your home to accommodate siblings so that they can remain together.

Please share this message with your friends, family, or anyone in your circle of impact that might be interested in becoming a foster parent. If you have any questions, you can email foster@bloomfosters.org. Let us work together to meet the needs of foster children in our communities and do what we can to make families whole once more.

Written by Ashley Brown, Bloom Lead Licensing Specialist