With social distancing guidelines relaxing, many organizations are beginning to relaunch short-term foster programs. In addition to being a gateway to engagement with the local community, most organizations who run short-term foster programs report that a percentage (sometimes as high as 75% or more!) of their participants decide to try out longer-term foster because of their experience. So, how can your shelter or rescue organization set the stage for these types of conversions? We spoke with favorite foster staff at several organizations to learn about their favorite techniques.
Be flexible. “My main strategy is to convey to fosters that I and the shelter are very flexible with foster stays and I make sure that fosters know that they will never be ‘stuck’ with a foster,” says Andrea Giorgio, Shelter Programs Coordinator for Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village in Novelty, OH. “I think a lot of people fear getting stuck with an animal and that prevents them from fostering for longer term. I’ve really noticed that by keeping things open and non-committal to a point that fosters usually ask for a longer time with their foster before I have to ask if they’re open to it.”
Make it easy for them to convert. Mention that it’s possible for them to keep the pet they’re caring for longer if they prefer. Give them instructions for how to do this in multiple places such as sign-up forms, welcome emails and mentioning it aloud when they pick up their short-term foster pet. “I would say approximately 50% of our Dog For The Day or Weekend Warrior programs turned into longer stays,” Michelle Harmon, Foster Supervisor at Fulton County Animal Services, LifeLine Animal Project in Atlanta, GA tells us. “Being flexible with commitment times allows people to ease into fostering longer term without pressure.”
Keep barriers low. “Having low barriers like programs being open every day of the week with flexible time commitments, lets people help an animal within their time constraints and lifestyle,” says Harmon.
Use one contract. This will cut down on the amount of paperwork the foster needs to fill out if they decide to convert. “We use one contract for all our foster programs because it allows the foster to extend the amount of time from a weekend to a longer-term time without having to return to the shelter to extend their time,” says Harmon.
Make support automatic. “We use Maddie’s® Pet Assistant that automatically sends out a check-in email/survey,” says Giorgio. “I think because the fosters feel supported by having this automation that immediately offers advice helps them to feel more confident and not alone while fostering and that they will not have to wait days to hear from the shelter to check in.”
“It’s super important to keep an open dialogue with fosters and to always meet them where they are at,” says Giorgio. “Being flexible and accommodating (within reason) shows that you respect the foster caregiver and appreciate their help. Building that rapport with them allows for further opportunities of growth and longer foster commitments from those families.”