The ChildThrive app provides a critical advancement in addressing one of the most persistent gaps in foster and adoptive care systems: continuity of care. As an occupational therapist, I have experienced wasted time in therapy that could have easily been mitigated by an app or program such as ChildThrive. By centralizing communication, care plans, developmental history, and more in one accessible platform, ChildThrive ensures that essential information follows the child, supporting more consistent, informed, and trauma-responsive care.
Testimonials
Educators, clinicians, and foster families on continuity of care, context in the classroom, and what it takes to support children across placements.
As a pediatric doctor in a hospital who interacts with foster children on a regular basis, I can see great benefit to ChildThrive to help keep important medical, behavioral, and preference information all in one place for children who are moved around frequently. Knowing medical preferences and issues, such as whether they prefer liquid over pills, coping mechanisms, etc., can help the medical team maximize their care and minimize their stay.
I believe that this platform would be of tremendous value for Special Education and General Education professionals who encounter, interact, and work with children who are in these situations. Knowing backgrounds, successful strategies, and areas of strength or concern would save valuable time and energy for both the teacher and student. In the fast-paced world of education, any successful tool is used and highly valued when it helps to support and engage at-risk children.
As a 35-year veteran teacher who has dealt with tons of parents, I can state categorically that it is incredibly beneficial for a teacher to know everything possible about a child coming down. This includes biological parents, foster parents, and adoptive parents.
For nearly eight years, my wife and I have had the privilege of serving in foster care. In that time, we’ve welcomed close to 50 children into our home. Our family now includes four biological children, three adopted children, and two under permanent guardianship. Each child who has come through our doors has brought unique needs, stories, and connections that don’t simply disappear when they transition to another home.
One of the greatest challenges we’ve experienced—and consistently heard echoed by other foster families—is the lack of a simple, reliable way to stay connected and share critical information. When a child moves to a new placement, so much valuable knowledge often gets lost: medical providers, dental history, therapy schedules, routines, preferences, and even the small details that help a child feel safe and understood. While caseworkers do an incredible job, they are often carrying overwhelming caseloads, making it difficult to ensure every detail is communicated smoothly and consistently.
We have long wished for a centralized, secure way for foster parents to access information about a child—a platform that would allow for sharing important information, coordinating appointments, and possibly even reaching out for respite care. Foster parenting can be isolating, and yet we are part of a larger community that deeply understands one another’s challenges, all of us trying to meet the needs of children. Creating a system that allows for information permanence and transfer not only supports foster parents but ultimately provides better continuity of care for the children we serve through all types of caretakers.
ChildThrive would ease the burden on caseworkers by improving communication flow, reducing repeated questions, and helping ensure that no important detail falls through the cracks. More importantly, it would create a stronger, more unified foster care community—one where families can find support, find and share pertinent information, and reach out when help is needed.
At its core, foster care is about stability, connection, and care. A platform like ChildThrive that is designed to support children, foster families, medical professionals, and other caregivers would honor the relationships built along the way, empower foster parents, and ultimately help give the children the best possible support.