Virtual supports: Bridging the gap for accessibility

One of the lessons learned during the past several years was the power of virtual communication. For many professionals, this era served as their first introduction to virtual platforms, and as people began interacting more with this technology, child welfare workers began to recognize its potential to increase accessibility, especially for rural communities and communities of color.

As we transition toward a balance of in-person and virtual experiences, we can still utilize virtual platforms to provide support and education for our foster, kinship, and adoptive families. Investing in this work can help drive retention and support more inclusive practices, which increase positive outcomes for children and youth.

Virtual supports can contribute to equity by:

• Enhancing accessibility. Providing support virtually allows families across a broad geographic area opportunity to participate. It gives families in rural areas access to the same resources as those in urban and suburban areas. Additionally, some online platforms offer such accommodations as screen readers and closed captioning, increasing participation opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• Allowing flexible scheduling. Offering support services at a variety of times provides more options for families with complex schedules. On-demand resources allow individual families to engage when it’s convenient.
• Addressing economic considerations. Travel, childcare, and other expenses may deter many from attending in-person events. Virtual options allow engagement without these barriers and costs. Organizations also share in cost reduction by eliminating expenses associated with physical space provision.
• Increasing cultural competence and inclusivity. Materials available in multiple languages and translation services can increase accessibility for non-English speaking families. Culturally competent resources that reflect the diversity of your families can be accessed across online platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Virtual access to a broad range of experts and programs can provide diverse perspectives.
• Offering privacy and comfort. Some families may engage more openly when attending from their own home. Private groups can be curated for families who might share similar needs to create a community of support.
• Facilitating technology empowerment. Equipping families with technological skills can increase their ability to access the vast digital world, locate information, find resources, and become more self-sufficient.

The types of virtual supports you choose to offer should depend on the needs of your families and could include:

• Offering virtual support groups. Consider organizing regularly scheduled online sessions for families to share experiences and offer mutual support. Or have a trained facilitator guide discussions and address specific topics or concerns to help provide structure.
• Providing access to virtual counseling and therapy. Families can be connected with licensed, specialized clinicians with expertise in foster and adoptive family dynamics to overcome geographic and time challenges.
• Offering educational workshops. Parenting strategies, trauma-informed care, and a variety of topics can be hosted via webinars. Interactive workshops with small groups can allow skill development and build communities of support.
• Creating digital libraries. Organizations can create a repository of articles, videos, and other virtual resources. Links to outside resources can be provided but should be routinely checked for accuracy.
• Offering virtual check-ins. Regular video calls can provide ongoing support and help monitor family well-being, with the added benefit of increased flexibility and minimized travel time and expense.
• Establishing peer mentoring support. Virtually pairing experienced parents with new families reduces geographic challenges and increases flexibility for providing guidance and support.
• Offering interactive events and activities. With some creativity, virtual activities such as game nights or crafting and cooking sessions can provide family-friendly fun and bonding. Also consider youth engagement activities to connect peers with similar interests.
• Leveraging social media. Creating private social media groups can help families connect and share information in a safe space. This also provides a platform for sharing updates, tips, and inspirational stories.
• Offering crisis support. Families experiencing a crisis can be offered organizational level support, as well as information about other available crisis hotlines or emergency resources.
• Utilizing technical assistance. Consider offering training sessions about how to use the virtual platforms and digital tools, so all families can feel comfortable using them.

Organizations can ensure equitable virtual supports by identifying and addressing potential barriers. For families needing internet connectivity or devices, explore community programs that offer such resources as hotspot loans, free internet access, or mobile devices. For families who are hesitant to participate in virtual events, consider offering training and support for using online platforms so they feel comfortable enough to participate fully. When implementing these virtual services, collect feedback from families to determine if and how these online options meet their needs and what improvements can be made. Many virtual platforms include the option to host polls to gather real-time user feedback that can guide ongoing quality improvement and program development.

Virtual supports, when thoughtfully incorporated, can provide inclusive and effective support for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.