Supporting Vulnerable Kiddos
I recently hosted some of my friends/mentors in a panel discussion aimed at sharing ways to support vulnerable children and families. You can listen to the recording here.
Here are a few of the follow-up links we mentioned in the discussion:
Ways to support with your home:
Consider foster care, adoption, or respite care.
These short, free videos from Promise 686 are super helpful as you think through fostering or adoption. They also have an Adoption 101 course that’s so good.
Families4Families is the agency we’ve used for foster care. They have a great overview of the process on their website.
Ways to support with your time:
Like Del mentioned, join (or launch!) a Care Community via Promise 686.
Only 50% of foster families continue beyond the first year, but of those with a Care Community, 90% continue. This stat blows me away!
To get started, ask your church if they have a FAM (Family Advocacy Ministry) via Promise 686. If they do, ask how you can join a Care Community! If they don’t, you can fill out this form to get info on how to start one.
Like Erika mentioned, become an EMA Advocate.
Build a meaningful connection with one mom as you work together towards her goals, being a voice box for her progress and helping her learn practical parenting skills. Each advocate will be equipped to provide social, emotional and tangible support that vulnerable moms need to move from crisis to stability. Commitment includes 10-15 one hour meetings with your paired mom.
If in Atlanta or Johns Creek, you can fill out this form to volunteer with Erika’s group. If you are outside of this area, check the EMA affiliates here.
Ways to support with your finances:
Commit some of your Georgia tax dollars to this tax credit to support foster kiddos aging out of foster care.
For every dollar you give through this program, you can subtract a dollar from the amount of state taxes you owe. If you pay Georgia taxes, you can receive a 100% tax credit against your Georgia income tax liability.
Support the work of Promise 686, which equips churches to raise up and care for foster and adoptive families.
Send meals or gift cards or offer childcare to foster/adoptive fams in your orbit!! You can give directly to Martha Cook’s family (and to four other families they support) via this donation link.
And finally, to read more of my personal story and in-progress thoughts about fostering/adoption, you can read through this link. 💛 - Callie
