Foster Care &

Kinship Care

Resources

BridgePoint of Western Pennsylvania began in 2016 under the original name The Sage Collector, with a mission to support foster children and the caregivers who serve them. In its early years, the organization focused on meeting immediate, tangible needs by providing toiletry kits, placement bags, and operating a free store where foster children, teens, and caregivers could access clothing, shoes, toys, and essential items at no cost. The Sage Collector also served as a vital connection point to community resources for families navigating the foster care system. Over the past decade, as more organizations and agencies have emerged offering similar material supports, BridgePoint has thoughtfully evolved its approach. While no longer providing those direct distribution services, BridgePoint continues its commitment by connecting caregivers to critical resources and recognizes the ongoing need for foster parents and how deeply they are valued.

Resources by County

Allegheny

Armstrong

Beaver

Butler

Clarion

Lawrence

Mercer

Venango

Westmoreland

Foster Care Agencies

Training & Books

Foster Parents & Caregivers
The Connected Child – Karyn Purvis
Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors – Robyn Gobel
The Foster Parenting Manual – John DeGarmo
What Happened to You? – Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey

Memoirs & Real Stories
Another Place at the Table – Kathy Harrison
To the End of June – Cris Beam
Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care – Rob Henderson
Ootlin – Jenni Fagan
Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare – Dorothy Roberts

Books for Children (Younger)
Maybe Days: A Book for Children in Foster Care – Jennifer Wilgocki
The Invisible String – Patrice Karst
Dennis and the Big Decisions – Paul Sambrooks
Room in the Nest – Holly Marlow

Books for Children (Elementary/Teens)
Wish – Barbara O’Connor
My Foster Care Journey – Beth O’Malley

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