Miriam's Heart, Inc.

Family Support | Ministry Development | Orphan Advocacy

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The Power of the Village

When people think about foster care, they often think about the financial cost. And they’re not wrong—preparing for one child can easily cost over $1,000. A bed, clothing, personal items, and basic necessities add up quickly. But the truth is, the financial cost is just the beginning. A tangible reminder of the actual costs of helping a child to feel safe. Children entering foster care arrive…

The Power of the Village

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What is love?

She was weary and overwhelmed. Her hair matted with sweat as tears streamed down her cheeks. She was pouring her heart out to me, a complete stranger, wondering whether she had what it took to be a parent. Her circumstances were not so unlike mine many years ago – and my heart ached for her inner turmoil. Her newborn son lay sweetly sleeping within arm’s reach of her hospital bed. As I drove to…

What is love?

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In January, our family welcomed back a young person who had once lived with us in foster care. After working closely with his mother and celebrating his reunification, we assumed the hardest chapter was over. But after a few years, unstable situations—housing challenges, unmet needs, and inconsistent supports— we lost contact. Not long after, he re‑entered foster care.

Re‑Entry in New Jersey

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#iCAN

Synopsis: 2025 Advocacy Highlights & 2026 Priorities In 2025, Miriam’s Heart made meaningful progress advancing child welfare reform and independent oversight in New Jersey. We engaged directly with key decision-makers, including three gubernatorial candidates, DCF leadership, and state and federal legislators, all of whom demonstrated growing awareness of the urgent need for accountability…

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2025: A Year of Growth, Connection, and Impact

Todd & Margaret Fontana celebrating their daughter’s 1st birthday In 2025, Miriam’s Heart continued to do what we do best—show up for children and families when they need support most, and walk alongside them with compassion, consistency, and care. This year, more than 500 children and families across New Jersey were served through our programs, events, and crisis response efforts. Behind every…

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A moment 'yes' changed a life

When they decided to say ‘yes’ and take in their niece, they had no idea that moment would change everything for them. Shortly after jumping in to support her, they learned of two young siblings in need of help. Not knowing where to turn, they turned to Miriam’s Heart.  Why Kinship Placements Matter Kinship care—when children are placed with relatives, close friends, or other adults they’re…

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Repost: Child Welfare Monitor

Charitable contributions to prevent abuse and neglect and protect children when it happens

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Recently, I learned that gratitude is about more than just petty thankfulness - gratitude is a lifeline. The ability to give thanks is like an anchor and a sail at the same time. It breathes life into the hard moments and holds you steady when you need it most.

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Calm-Down Horse

It all began while I was watching a horse race. As the powerful, majestic racehorses entered the stadium and lined up to compete, I noticed something unusual. Alongside them—both before and after the race—was another horse, running quietly at their side. This companion horse didn’t race. It wasn’t there to perform or to win. Its sole purpose was to stay close to the racehorse, especially at the…

Calm-Down Horse

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A Quiet, Creeping Weight

There’s a quiet, creeping weight heavier than grief. It originates in isolation, hurt, and illness, and pulls you deeper and further away into darkness. Its goal is to leave you rejected and alone. It whispers to you about your failures, creating dismay. It lurks in the past and causes you to worry about your future. What if they knew? It does not only fester over something you’ve done. But…

A Quiet, Creeping Weight

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It is not easy to be an unwed pregnant teen. It is confusing how our culture both celebrates ‘life’ yet shuns the young, pregnant, unmarried mother. The stigma and shame of bringing a child into a world that claims to care — but often doesn't — can last a lifetime.

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…because you believed, it has been done Have you ever heard the story of when Jesus meets the Roman officer?

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The lowest place

Since December, I’ve kept a red sticker name tag from a mental hospital tucked in my wallet as a token and a promise to myself that I’d never forget the lowest point of my life.  I determined I’d remember the low point no matter what and remember what God had brought us through. A few months later, I was back at that same facility. I kept that name tag, too, as a reminder of God’s promises –…

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Here comes Halloween... '24 Reboot

Here comes Halloween...

This post is a re-boot of a post originally written ten years ago! We think it’s still good food for thought… This past week, my kids actually articulated to me that they ‘can’t wait for Halloween to be over so TV isn’t so spooky all the time!’ and that once ‘Halloween is over, everything becomes about celebrating harvest and Thanksgiving’. The more I thought about this, the more I realized how…

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All children deserve to be in a family that is safe and supportive. 

Poverty, mental illness, abuse, addiction, and desperation can cause parents not to be able to provide for their children. When this happens children can be placed into a system of care (called foster care) or be moved to live in an orphanage. In America and around the world thousands of children are in foster care or growing up in orphanages. They aren’t in safe and permanent families. When…

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Fall 2023 Update

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Spring & Summer Newsletter

Spring and Summer newsletter is here!

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