Integrating Foster into the Whole Organization Collection

Integrating Foster into the Whole Organization Collection

What does a successful program that integrates foster programming into the whole organization look like? Foster is considered to be as important as adoption, and far superior to housing in shelter. Foster staff and other staff collaborate to place pets in foster. 

Organizations that are most successful in the area of integrating foster programming have the following key characteristics:

  • For the organization as a whole, foster is as important as adoption.
  • Staff and volunteers believe foster is the ideal standard for most pets.
  • There is regular collaboration between foster staff and other staff to meet the pets’ and program’s needs.
  • Foster placements can be made by multiple staff and/or volunteers. 

This collection contains Maddie's University courses to help you integrate foster into your whole organization as well as examples of organizations that have made foster central to all shelter operations.

keywords: foster collection, integrating foster program, foster program integration, foster programming whole shelter, foster integration

  • Seven Guiding Principles of Foster Programs
    Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Get the majority of your pets out of the shelter and into foster homes

    This course will teach you everything you need to know in order to place 50% or more of shelter pets into foster homes. You will learn to utilize the seven guiding principles of foster programs to set your organization up for foster success; create a year-round, comprehensive foster recruitment plan that extends the invitation to foster to all members of your community; create a community culture of fostering to make foster the standard of care; create a process for marketing and adopting pets from foster care; and utilize staff and volunteers to assist with management of foster care. 

    Note: This course was previously titled A New Model for Shelter Care: Replacing Kennels with Foster Homes.

    Human Animal Support Services, HASS

  • Building a Foster-centric Organization
    Contains 2 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Learn what it means to be foster-centric.

    What does it mean to be foster centric? Learn from the people who have elevated foster care from a sideline shelter program to a best practice.

    Presenters: Kristen Hassen-Auerbach, Dr. Sheila Segurson, Kelly Duer and Teresa Johnson






    Maximize In-Shelter Welfare, Animal & Population Management,live outcomes,foster programs, foster care,pet fostering, community outreach