Ways You Can Help This National Foster Care Awareness Month
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, and the stats are staggering. There are over 113,589 kids in foster care waiting to be adopted in the United States. According to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, the average age of a child adopted from foster care is 6 years old, but over 40% of the kids waiting to be adopted are ages 8 and over.
Older kids are often overlooked in adoption for a variety of reasons. There are many myths and stereotypes that portray older kids in foster care in a negative light. But the reality is that older kids in foster care are still just that: kids. And these kids—through no fault of their own—have found themselves lost in the system, often moving from placement to placement, growing up without the stability and security of a loving home.
At Kidsave, we believe every kid deserves a family. That’s why we are dedicated to championing the older kids in foster care who are so often forgotten. Everything we do at Kidsave is dedicated to helping the kids in our programs be seen, find family, and thrive. There are many ways that you can help older kids in foster care, too.
Help a Child in Foster Care Today
Become a foster or adoptive parent.
The greatest way you can help a child in foster care is to give them the love and support they so desperately need. There are so many older kids in foster care desperately looking for their forever family—the family that is going to love them no matter what and provide them with the safety and stability they need to thrive. These kids—through no fault of their own—have been stuck in a system that, try as it might, often fails them. That’s why at Kidsave our Weekend Miracles program works alongside child protection agencies and adoption agencies to present an alternate route to adoption beyond traditional foster care. Our programs create opportunities for families to get to know kids in foster care at safe and supervised, but fun and engaging, Connection Events. During these events, the kids can interact with families and begin to form a connection which they can continue to develop through additional events, and, eventually, one-on-one activities and weekend visits. The most important part is that the kids have a voice and a choice in who they spend time with and get to know and who, ultimately, may become their forever family.
Learn more about adopting through Kidsave here.
Not in Houston or Los Angeles? You can help kids in foster care in your own community by becoming a foster or adoptive parent. Contact your local child welfare agency or child protective services and visit https://www.adoptuskids.org/meet-the-children/search-for-children/state-photolists to see the children available for adoption through AdoptUSKids in your state.
Become a host, mentor, or advocate.
If you aren’t sure if you are ready to become a foster or adoptive parent, you can still help a child in foster care by becoming a host or mentor. Some older kids in foster care aren’t ready to be adopted either, but they still need positive role models and support systems. If you are in Houston or Los Angeles, you can become a host or mentor through Kidsave. If you live outside of LA and Houston, learn how you can become a mentor or an advocate in your area.
Become a volunteer.
For every adoption, there are a million pieces that must first fall into place, and volunteers are a huge part of what makes that possible. At Kidsave, our volunteers are our lifeblood, the fuel that keeps us running, and we are so grateful for each and every one!
There are many ways to volunteer your time. Whether it is running a table at an event or helping with more behind-the-scenes, administrative tasks, there is a volunteer task for everyone.
Learn how you can become a volunteer for Kidsave.
About Kidsave Weekend Miracles
Kidsave is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works alongside child welfare agencies to find mentors, hosts, and forever families for older kids in foster care through our Weekend Miracles program.
There are many wonderful kids in our Weekend Miracles programs in Los Angeles and Houston need of a mentor, host, or adoptive family. These older kids in foster care are growing up without the stability and love that all kids need to thrive. If you’re interested in adopting or hosting an older child, please contact us. We’re happy to answer any questions and help you get started. Email us at weekendmiracles@kidsave.org to learn more.
