4 Ways to Support Foster Children
Foster parenting is a big commitment and it isn’t the right option for everyone. If you don’t have the time or ability to care for children in much-need of a loving home, there are other ways you can improve their childhood and quality of life.
If you want to make a positive difference to kids of all ages, read the four ways to support foster children.
Offer Respite Care
While fostering might not be right for you, you could provide both foster parents and children with support by offering respite care. As children must be supervised by an adult cleared by the state, foster parents will be unable to call a friend or family member to care for a child in an emergency. However, you could fill in a form and submit your driver’s license to serve as an emergency contact or to babysit for a foster family.
Volunteer
There are fortunately numerous volunteering opportunities you can get involved in to support foster children of all ages. If you want to positively impact the lives of children in need of love and support, you could sign-up to one of the many superb mentoring programs available, such as Kids Hope USA or Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Alternatively, you could use your spare time to volunteer at a nearby foster care agency or host fundraising events to raise money for various facilities and families.
Make a Donation
Sadly, many children often arrive in foster care with a limited number of possessions. While child welfare agencies and foster parents will try to provide many much-needed items to children, such as clothing, school supplies and toys, it can be a struggle to cater to a child’s needs on a tight budget.
To ensure a child receives clean clothing, the appropriate tools for school and Christmas gifts, you should consider making a donation. For example, you could donate money to a worthy cause or buy gifts, pajamas or clothing for a local agency, which will be immediately put to good use. You could even donate to Brighter Way Dental, who are attempting to resolve oral health problems for foster children.
Become an Advocate
If you feel passionate about helping foster children to find a home and wish to provide foster parents and the system with greater support, you must take the time to learn more about the process and how people can help.
For example, talk to different foster parents and former foster children, stay up-to-date on the latest foster care news, and connect with local agencies to learn about the processes and how people can become foster parents or raise essential funds.
Once you have a firm understanding, you can use your voice to educate others and potentially inspire people to become foster parents or donate to a worthy cause. So, talk to your loved ones, use social media as a platform to spread the word, and launch awareness campaigns. If your voice can connect with one person, you could make a positive difference to at least one child’s life.
