Hello Kiddies, Parents/Caregivers and Teachers! HOME, is where we lay our heads, where we play, where we feel safe, and where we grow...
But that isn't always the case for every kiddie. This is especially true for kiddies in the foster care system. At one time, there are more then 640,000+ American children in the foster care system, with about 100,000+ waiting to be adopted. [1] About 30% of kiddies who enter the foster care system are usually placed with relatives, especially grandparents temporarily. [1] The average time a child is in the foster care system is 1 year, and are eventually reunited with their parents. However, about 10,000 kiddies phase out of the system at 18 or 21 years old.
Kiddies in the foster care system are placed in caring homes, but are often moved around, an average of four homes in the first year. Ms. Rose is delighted to have discovered this organization, Together We Rise, that assists with trying to make those moves and navigating the foster care system easier.
Together We Rise: Safer at Home Service Project- Sweet Cases provides a kiddie entering the foster care system, a duffle with a blanket, teddy bear, hygiene kit, and coloring book & crayons. Safer at Home Service Project- Sweet Cases as part of the organization Together We Rise was the inspiration of founder Danny Mendoza. After he discovered his 9 year-old cousin was living in a car. At the time, Danny was under-age and could not be a foster parent. Inspired by those obstacles in trying to assist, he founded Together We Rise. The organization attempts to assist and help youth in the foster care system in other ways without being a foster parent. Together We Rise is committed to restoring dignity and integrity, during a difficult process.
Together We Rise have several ways you and your family can help kiddies in the fostercare system: -Hosting a donation drive
-Monetary Donation
-Volunteering
and so many more opportunities here.
One particular opportunity that interested Ms. Rose was the opportunity to decorate the duffle bag panels for Sweet Cases.
As the organization describes: The Safer at Home Sweet Case Service Project is designed to make giving back easy and safe. Even with the COVID-19 outbreak, children are still navigating foster care. Many are given a trash bag to move their belongings. Included in the Safer at Home Sweet Case Service Project are:
Once you are finish decorating using the stencils or your own creativity with the provided fabric pastels. Simply place the completed panel in the enclosed extra poly bag, attach the provided prepaid label, and send back your completed panel to Together We Rise. The package can be dropped off at any USPS shipping location.
These decorated panels will be part of Sweet Cases that will provide foster children a show of support and encouragement during this tough and uncertain time. A wonderful activity to support a great cause! Ms. Rose hopes you get to participate and help in any way you can! Stay creative and be a service to others!
Source:
[1] Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2020). Foster care statistics 2018. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau.
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