OUR STORY

ORIGIN STORY

Mission: Cut it Forward is a non-profit organization providing culturally specific hair and skin care resources for foster and adopted children of color, and their caregivers.

Vision: A future where all foster and adopted children are connected to their needs.

In 2013 co-founder Vanessa Morrison began addressing the many challenges that children of color face when it comes to their ethnic hair and skin care needs in foster and adoptive care. Through product drives, public speaking, and free hair care services, the duo dedicated countless hours to shed light on these needs and to be a resource to children and families. After years of volunteering, planning, and advocating on behalf of these challenges, in 2014 Cut it Forward was and began to serve various communities under this initiative. Other community leaders joined their efforts in 2018 and together they activated as a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization to address these culturally specific needs on a larger scale.

Priding itself as an organization representative of individuals with lived experience, foster care alumni committee members of Cut it Forward know about these challenges all too well after growing up in the foster care system. Some members began advocating on behalf of these needs as young as 15 years old while they were still in care by speaking on panels, at trainings, and various events.

“Children of color often enter foster and adoptive systems with their culturally specific hair and skin care needs misunderstood and neglected.” Morrison explained. “While the method we serve the mission through is hair and skin care support, the foundation of our work is to help ensure that children of color are seen, heard, and celebrated as they naturally are.” Morrison stated.

With an intention to create more accessible hair and skin care resources, Cut it Forward has become a nationally recognized resource to children, families, and child welfare professionals.