06/19/2026
“A Home for Every Child” is a powerful goal. Every child deserves a safe, loving family.
But what if we’re asking the wrong question?
Instead of asking, “How do we find a home for every child?” maybe we should also be asking, “How do we ensure every child has the RIGHT home?”
At Tulsa Girls’ Home, we’ve seen incredible foster families and kinship placements change lives. We’ve also seen placements considered that simply were not equipped to meet a child’s needs. When a youth has experienced significant trauma, struggles with mental health, has developmental needs, or requires a high level of support, a bed alone isn’t enough.
Children deserve more than placement. They deserve preparation, stability, safety, and adults who understand their unique needs.
And for girls in foster care, safety must be at the center of every placement decision.
Many girls entering care have histories of abuse, exploitation, trafficking, grooming, neglect, or unhealthy relationships. We cannot afford to become so focused on finding available beds that we stop asking the hard questions about whether a placement can truly protect and support them.
At Tulsa Girls’ Home, we’ve seen girls flourish when they are surrounded by trained adults who understand trauma and create environments where they feel safe, heard, and valued. We’ve also seen the devastating impact when placements fail, when youth are moved too quickly, or when concerns about safety and fit are overlooked.
Recently, Tulsa Girls’ Home board member Jen Lilley spoke on the Shawn Ryan Show about the realities many children face in foster care and the vulnerabilities that exist within the system. Her message was clear: children deserve more than a placement—they deserve protection, advocacy, and adults willing to put their safety first.
When we prioritize numbers over readiness, we risk setting both children and families up for failure. Placement disruptions create more loss, more rejection, and more trauma for youth who have already experienced too much of all three.
So how do we raise the bar?
✔️ Better screening, training, and ongoing support for foster and kinship families.
✔️ Greater consideration of a child’s treatment and safety needs before placement decisions are made.
✔️ Listening to youth when they express concerns about feeling unsafe.
✔️ Stronger oversight and accountability to ensure homes are providing appropriate care and are not exploiting vulnerable children.
✔️ Allowing therapeutic programs to complete treatment when youth are thriving instead of moving them simply to meet timelines.
✔️ Measuring success by long-term stability, safety, and well-being—not just placement numbers.
The answer isn’t fewer homes.
The answer is stronger homes. Safer homes. Better-supported homes.
Every child deserves a home.
But every child—especially every girl who has already endured trauma deserves a home where she is protected, valued, and safe.
