The Power of Belonging
Supportive Communities for foster, kinship, adoptive
and guardianship families
"Joining Second Nurture is the single best thing we've done as foster parents."
Becoming a caregiving family changes everything.
Whether you're fostering, raising grandchildren, welcoming a child through adoption, or caring for a relative, you don't have to do it alone.
Second Nurture creates circles of belonging through shared meals, practical support and people who keep showing up.
Linda M., 2N Cohort Member
When a family says yes to a child,
2N communities say yes to the family
We Gather
Belonging begins here.
Caregiving families come together in a Second Nurture Cohort to share a meal, build relationships, and discover they don't have to do this alone.
We Show Up
Belonging continues between gatherings.
Volunteers from the community bring meals, childcare, transportation, and other practical help.
We Become Family
Belonging grows through relationships.
Over time, neighbors become friends, friends become trusted supports, and a community becomes an extended family.
"2N is more than a support group—it's an extended family."
Tamara T., 2N Cohort Member
This is What Belonging Feels Like
"The kids get to engage with other foster kids just like them and I know the community members who take care of the kids really care and understand the kids' circumstances."
Stacie S., 2N Cohort Parent
"They embrace every child... with this attention and love that makes them feel like the only person in the room. Seen, cared for and safe."
Linda M, 2N Cohort Parent
"They were consistently proactive in learning the kind of support I need, which saved me from figuring out the different agencies and services myself."
Mia L, 2N Cohort Parent
"The children literally count the days until our next meeting."
Richard M, 2N Cohort Paren
When Caregivers Thrive, Children Thrive
Supporting caregivers isn't separate from supporting children—it's one of the most powerful ways to help children flourish.
"I've connected with other caregivers who 'get it' without judgment."
"Hearing other people's journeys makes me feel like I am not alone."
"These are people who get what I'm going through."
Communities Make Belonging Possible
Second Nurture partners with synagogues because they are uniquely equipped to build lasting relationships, share responsibility, and show up for one another. Those same strengths make them powerful places for foster, kinship, adoptive, and guardianship families to find the community every caregiver deserves.
The families we serve come from many faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, and most are not members of the host synagogue. That isn't the point. What matters is that they are welcomed, known, and supported by a community committed to walking alongside them.
Together, volunteers, clergy, staff, and families create communities where no caregiver has to do this alone—and where children can grow up surrounded by the stability, relationships, and belonging every family needs.
The Village Keeps Showing Up
When caregivers have community, families become stronger and children benefit. Families tell us that's exactly what happens.
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Nearly 100% of participating caregivers continue fostering years after joining—or have adopted
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227 parents connected through Second Nurture communities
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450+children connected through Second Nurture communities
Support from our 2N "Host Community" volunteers have ranged from emergency donations like cribs to help navigating bureaucracy to a pro bono veterinarian for a foster child's puppy!
Every Foster Family Deserves This
Whether you're looking for support, becoming a Host Community, or helping more families thrive, we'd love to welcome you to the 2N family.
Every child deserves to feel seen, cared for, and safe
Every caregiver deserves a community that shows up
Every congregation can become part of that story
Growing Through Partnership
As Second Nurture grows, we're partnering with communities and organizations that share our commitment to surrounding caregiving families with lasting relationships and belonging.
2N Calendar
Do you have a Donor-Advised Fund?
Use this form to make a donation today!
What is a donor-advised fund?
A donor-advised fund (DAF) provides donors with a centralized charitable giving vehicle. It allows philanthropically inclined individuals, families, and corporations to make an irrevocable charitable gift to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program and take an immediate tax deduction. Most sponsoring organizations of DAFs accept cash equivalents, securities, and certain other assets.
How does it work?
Establish your DAF by making an irrevocable, tax-deductible donation to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program. Advise the investment allocation of the donated assets (any investment growth is tax-free). Recommend grants to qualified public charities of your choice.
Advantages of a donor-advised fund?
Simplicity—The DAF sponsor handles all recordkeeping, disbursements, and tax receipts.
Flexibility—Timing of your tax deduction can be separate from your charitable decision making.
Tax efficiency—Contributions are tax-deductible, and any investment growth in the DAF is tax-free. It is also easy to donate long-term appreciated securities, eliminating capital gains taxes and allowing you to support several charities from one block of stock.
Family legacy—A DAF is a powerful way to build or continue a tradition of family philanthropy.
Why Our Work Matters
Kids from foster care, in their own words, on the importance of family. (Three-minute video from our partners at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption)