Lantern Support Services

Our mission is to support foster, kinship, collaborative care, and adopted individuals and families by providing hands-on help, programming, and resources. Our vision is a compassionate community where foster, kinship, collaborative care, and adopted individuals and families are fully supported, empowered, and connected. This will ensure that children grow into thriving, secure adults who experience love, healthy relationships, and a sense of belonging. We began as an initiative under the Foster Closet of Monroe County in 2022 and incorporated as a non-profit with the state of Indiana in the spring of 2024.

Currently we offer once a month family gatherings for foster, kinship, collaborative care, and adoptive (FKCA) families.  Families are in charge of their own kids, but we also have volunteers to play with and craft with the kids. From time to time we collaborate with other organizations (e.g., IU student groups and a church young adult group) to provide meals for FKCA families. A mental health therapist offers pro-bono services to two of the FKCA families we serve. We provide welcome bags with books and little activities when a new child arrives in a home.