Currently in the United States, there are approximately 400,000 children in the foster care system. California is specifically responsible for over 50,000 of these children. While children can be placed in foster care for a variety of reasons, their need for support and care remains the same.
While individual agencies and the families that adopt or foster children are doing important work to the best of their abilities, they still require assistance to ensure the best possible outcome for each child. While not every family is able to adopt or foster a child, there are still a variety of things you can do to help children in the foster care system. We’ve outlined a few tips that you can use to support children in your community.
1. Donate new or gently used clothing, toys, and school supplies.
State-run facilities, charities, and individual families are always in need of clothing and supplies. To find out what items are needed most, contact local organizations in your area. You can even work with their volunteers to collect even more items from members of your community.
2. Volunteer with local group homes for children.
Because there are no longer orphanages in the United States, many children waiting to be adopted or reunified with their families stay in group homes, residential treatment centers, or modern boarding schools. These facilities are often in need of volunteers to help with food preparation, cleaning, and child care. These types of facilities are typically run by the state, so you would need to contact your local government to get in touch with a volunteer coordinator.
3. Become a respite care provider.
Respite care providers are individuals that can take care of a foster child for a few days at a time in emergency situations. In order to become a respite care provider, you will need to begin the certification process by reaching out to your local government or foster care agency. You will need to also submit an application to an individual foster care agency and go through a formal interview process before being accepted.
4. Become a Mentor at the Rezvan Foundation.
To help foster youth in need of more consistent and reliable adult support, our Mentor program ensures that students receive ongoing 1:1 mentorship through their college career. Mentors are carefully selected based on the shared interests, goals, and desired career paths of the students we work with. To learn more about our Mentor program and apply, click here.
Here at the Rezvan Foundation, we are dedicated to supporting the academic pursuits of exceptionally talented young students who grew up in foster care. In fact, our organization awards up to $100,000 per recipient in college scholarship funding to graduating high school students who, in spite of formative years filled with significant hardships, have shown a determination to succeed and a desire to be of service to others. To learn more about the Rezvan Foundation, and to make a donation, click here.