Gateway

This National Foster Care Appreciation Month, we’re celebrating the incredible people who open their hearts and homes to youth across Alabama — and encouraging others to consider making a difference through foster care.

Opening your home to a child in foster care can have a lasting impact. Foster parents help create safe, caring environments where youth feel supported, encouraged, and valued during difficult times. While the journey can come with challenges, many families find fostering to be an incredibly meaningful and rewarding experience.

There are Alabama youth right now who need someone to believe in them and help them build a brighter future. Could that someone be you?

Learn more about becoming a foster parent by visiting www.gway.org .

May is National Foster Care Month, and at Gateway, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate our incredible foster parents. 💙

Our foster families open their hearts and homes to youth in need every single day. They provide stability, encouragement, support, and compassion during some of the most important moments in a young person’s life. The impact they make reaches far beyond what words can express, and we are deeply grateful for everything they do for the children and families we serve.

Earlier this week, we hosted a Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner as a small way to say thank you to these amazing individuals. Foster parents were presented with certificates of recognition and gift cards to show our appreciation for their dedication and commitment to the youth in their care.

While we may only have a few snapshots from the evening, these photos represent a night filled with gratitude, celebration, and recognition for the people who make such a meaningful difference every day.

To all of our Gateway foster parents: thank you for your kindness, patience, advocacy, and unwavering support. You are truly changing lives.

We had such a wonderful time being part of the 5th Annual Pinwheels for Prevention event on Saturday in Chelsea! 💙

This fun, free community event was a great way to raise awareness for National Child Abuse Prevention Month while bringing families together for a meaningful cause. Our staff truly enjoyed connecting with so many amazing families, sharing Gateway resources, and building relationships throughout the community.

A big thank you to the Shelby County Children’s Policy Council’s Parent Involvement and Skills Committee for hosting such an engaging and impactful event. We’re grateful to have been part of it!

Every child deserves at least one safe, supportive adult.

Trauma can change how a child sees the world—but healing happens in relationships.

A caring teacher. A patient foster parent. A consistent caseworker.

You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to show up.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month—a time to recognize the role we all play in creating safe, supportive environments where children can heal and thrive. 💙

We couldn’t let March—and Social Work Month—come to an end without recognizing the incredible social workers at Gateway!

Across every program and in administration, our team shows up each day with dedication, compassion, and a commitment to being true game changers for the youth and families we serve.

Your impact does not go unnoticed—thank you for the difference you make every single day. 💙

Our Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) youth kicked off Spring Break with some early Easter fun at a special egg hunt coordinated by our amazing staff! From candy-filled eggs to exciting prizes, it was a day full of smiles, laughter, and time together at the park.

Moments like these matter—giving youth in care the opportunity to experience the joy of simply being kids. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated TFC team for making this day so special!

Join us! This powerful, trauma-informed training is perfect for educators, social workers, counselors, child welfare professionals, and anyone working with children.

💻 Virtual trainings are offered monthly, and we also provide in-person or virtual trainings for organizations and teams to fit your schedule.

👉 Register now for April’s virtual training at www.gway.org.

Interested in scheduling a training for your organization?
Contact Briana Knight at [email protected] for more information.

This Valentine’s Day, we want to recognize the everyday heroes who open their homes and hearts to children in need.

To our Gateway foster parents and foster families everywhere — thank you for showing up with compassion, strength, and unconditional love. ❤️

We are so grateful for you!

This holiday season, Gateway is collecting donations to ensure every child in our care receives Christmas gifts. Many of our kids come to us during difficult and unexpected transitions. Your support helps bring joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging during the holidays.
If you’d like to contribute, please visit our donation link here:
https://form.jotform.com/203205606090141
Or, visit us at gway.org to find the Donate button.

Trauma doesn’t just affect one child — it impacts the whole family system. 🧡 Whole-family care means supporting parents, grandparents, foster families, and kinship caregivers with tools to respond to trauma.
When caregivers feel supported and confident, children experience greater safety, stability, and healing. Gateway partners with families so no one has to walk this journey alone.