How Can I Help

Adopt

Of the 510,000 children in foster care, 129,000 of them are waiting to be adopted. Their parents’ parental rights have been terminated and they are waiting for a family to call their own. You can help! Many married couples and single adults are eligible to adopt. Whether you are young or old, wealthy or of modest means, if you have biological children or no children at all, you can make an extraordinary difference in the life of a child. When you open up your heart and home to a child, you change his or her life forever.  Click here to get started!

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Foster

Abused and neglected children who have been removed from their homes are in desperate need of a loving family to provide safety and stability during a traumatic time. Becoming a foster parent is one generous and loving way you can take care of these children. Foster parents receive ongoing training and support, assistance with paperwork, access to other foster parents and foster parent activities. Click here to get started!

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Volunteer

Mentor

Did you know there are 14.6 million children and youth in America who need mentors?* Mentored youth miss fewer days in school, have a better chance of going on to college, and have a more positive outlook on school. Mentoring also appears to help prevent substance abuse and other negative behaviors. ** So what are you waiting for? Become a mentor to a youth and help them achieve their goals. Visit Mentoring today to get started.  Or become a virtual mentor to youth in foster care ages 16-23. All volunteers must complete training, submit personal and professional references, and pass a criminal record check. All communication is monitored to ensure safety of teens and volunteers.

CASA

When an abused or neglected child is removed from their home, their world is turned upside down. Social workers, lawyers and judges take their place in this little person’s life while the child tries to pick up the pieces and make sense of what’s happened. When you volunteer to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate – CASA – (known in some states as a Guardian ad litem), you become a crucial voice for that child. A CASA becomes familiar with his/her child’s case and make recommendations to the court so that child will have a safe, loving home. No special education or background is required to be a CASA, just a willingness to be trained and a desire to help abused and neglected children find a safe and permanent home.

Respite Care

Respite care providers volunteer their time to supervise children in foster care so that foster parents can take a break. If you want to make a difference in the life of a child in your community and support foster parents, or if you are considering foster parenting and are not sure yet if you can make a long-term commitment, becoming a respite care provider might be the next step for you. Every state or county has its own procedures for respite care providers. To learn how you can be a respite care provider, click here for state-specific information.

Volunteer at an Agency

One way you can help is to volunteer at your local foster care agency. Social workers and agency staff are oftentimes overwhelmed with caseloads, paperwork and other responsibilities. Any amount of time you can volunteer could make a huge difference. To find the foster care agency in your community, contact your Foster Care Specialist within your state.

*Mentor/National Mentoring Partnership
**ChildTrends