The Bair Foundation: Easing the Burden on Foster Families with Innovation

Forever Focused on Meeting the Needs of Children and Families

For more than 50 years, The Bair Foundation has provided stability and hope to children and families in crisis. Since its founding in 1967, the organization has prioritized strengthening families, children and communities. As a Christian foster care agency, Bair has supported more than 250,000 children, many of whom have experienced abuse, trauma and neglect.

“Our number one priority is the safety and well-being of all children in our care,” said Trisch Edmonds, MSW LSW, Director Social Service Informatics for The Bair Foundation. “We work to prevent out-of-home placements whenever possible through intervention and by focusing on the strengths of the biological family,” Edmonds continued. “When removal is necessary, we provide intervention and influence that promote health and well-being in the least restrictive environment while moving toward permanency.”

To effectively deliver on this mission, The Bair Foundation relies on a strong network of foster families. The organization provides ongoing support, training and resources to ensure families feel appreciated and valued.

The Challenge: Rising Demand and Workforce Shortages

Child and family organizations nationwide face mounting challenges. The demand for behavioral health services continues to grow, but the industry, along with behavioral health and addiction treatment organizations, struggles with workforce shortages and funding limitations. The foster care system is particularly strained, serving more than 400,000 children in foster care as of 2024.

“Organizations are struggling to attract and retain qualified personnel,” Edmonds explained. “There’s a projected deficit of 15,000 case managers and clinicians over the next few years. At the same time, we’re working hard to retain foster families and ensure they understand and engage with the solutions we provide. We need technology to drive efficiency, reduce burnout and make a meaningful difference for the children.”

The Solution: The Foster Care Portal

To address these challenges, The Bair Foundation partnered with Netsmart and implemented the Foster Care Portal. As part of the CareFabric™ suite, the portal streamlines documentation and administrative tasks, making it easier for applicants, foster families and staff.

“We have worked so closely with Netsmart over the years and really view this partnership as important,” Edmonds said. “I’m really excited to share our most recent collaboration: the Foster Care Portal.”

The portal simplifies documentation, allowing foster parents to complete and submit necessary paperwork from anywhere, including on mobile devices. “We all know being a foster parent is hard,” Edmonds said. “Not only are you taking care of that child in your home, but you're also responsible for so much paperwork. We wanted a solution that’s efficient and easy to access from anywhere.”

The portal’s primary features include:

• Secure communication between foster parents and case managers
• Digital submission of required documentation, reducing travel time
• Automated reminders for appointments, licensure renewals and compliance tasks
• Integration with The Bair Foundation’s electronic health record (EHR), eliminating duplicative data entry

The Results: Greater Efficiency, Improved Retention

The implementation of the Foster Care Portal has significantly improved efficiency, reduced administrative burdens and enhanced communication.

“For foster parents, [the portal] means being able to upload documents on the spot rather than bringing paperwork home and creating potential privacy risks,” Edmonds explained. “For staff, it means receiving documentation faster and avoiding unnecessary travel. If something is missing, they can send it back for correction immediately.”

With 30-50% of foster families quitting each year, retaining families is critical. By reducing paperwork burdens, The Bair Foundation is making it easier for families to continue fostering.

The impact extends to staff as well. “We need technology to solve for people leaving because it’s difficult for them to do their job,” Edmonds said. “We want staff to spend time providing services, not documenting them. With families able to complete foster care and adoption paperwork themselves in the portal, it eases the burden on recruiters and case managers.”

The financial benefits are also clear:

• Reduced mileage costs from decreased travel for paperwork collection
• Faster licensing, allowing new foster parents to attain certification more quickly
• Quicker emergency placements, ensuring children have a safe home immediately

One Platform Presents a Win-Win for Families and Staff

By consolidating systems into one platform, The Bair Foundation has gained greater visibility and efficiency. Everything from file reviews to audits is managed in a single system, reducing complexity and administrative strain.

“Being an early adopter has been an absolute privilege,” Edmonds said. “It’s been fun to see different backgrounds and visions come together to solve real challenges.”

The Foster Care Portal is a game-changer for The Bair Foundation. By reducing administrative burdens, improving communication and streamlining processes, the organization is better equipped to support both foster families and staff.

“By streamlining these processes, it’s made care that much easier,” Edmonds concluded. “We’re bringing in new families, keeping existing families and empowering our staff—a win-win across the board.”