May is National Foster Care Awareness month. In the United States there are currently 422,000 children in foster care. Approximately 10,000 of those children reside in Washington state alone. That is 10,000 vulnerable children who go to sleep every night in a home that is not their own, not knowing what their future holds. 10,000 children coping with minor to significant trauma. 10,000 children in need of a safe, loving home and a community of people to support them.
As the number of children in foster care rises, so does the need for people to step up in the community to support foster children and foster families.
Here are a few ways you can support a foster child.
Become a full time licensed foster parent. Open up your home as a safe place for children in need. Care for them, advocate for them, love them, and support them as primary caregivers until permanency is reached.
Become a licensed respite care provider. Provide an opportunity of rest for full-time foster parents and a fun break for foster children by caring for them in your home for a few days out of the month.
Become a volunteer. Use your unique skills and passion to support foster families and children.
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- Provide visits for foster children and their biological parents.
- Help with special events throughout the year or projects at the agency office.
- Participate in the monthly Children’s Activities program.
- Baby-sit for foster parents on occasion.
- Host training’s or support groups for foster parents.
Give of your resources to provide for the needs of foster children.
Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Advocate for the needs of foster children as a CASA by doing in depth research of the child’s situation, developing a close relationship with the child, and give recommendations to the judge at court of best placement options and services to meet the unique needs of the child.
Serve a foster family in your local community. Ask a foster family you know how you can practically help them. Offer to baby-sit. Run an errand for them. Bring them a meal or items they need the night a child is placed with them.
Pray. Pray for foster children. Pray for biological families. Pray for foster families. Pray for the social workers, court judges, therapists, teachers, and all professionals and individuals in the foster child’s life.
Attend City Ministries Inaugural Celebration Event on May 29th, 2019! We are excited to host our first celebration and fundraiser this month. Please join us for this special evening to find out more about us and support the work we do in our community!
Click here for event information and register here.
Start making difference in the life of a foster child in one of these ways today!
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” -James 1:27
