Children, Youth and Families
How You Can Help
Protecting children and strengthening families is the responsibility of every member of the community. Fostering and adopting a child may not be an option for everyone, however, there are many ways to help a child or family in need in your community.
You can provide free services for foster/adoptive families, such as:
- Free haircuts, dental care, periodic maid service, tailoring;
- Free services based on occupation/business: construction, counseling, home furnishings, family dinners at restaurants, mechanic services; or
- Scholarships/free lessons for summer camp, sports teams, dance, art or music.
You can help children and their families by:
- Volunteering as a life-skills tutor (cooking, computer skills, sewing, money management);
- Becoming a school volunteer;
- Providing school supplies (books, pencils, book bags, paper);
- Providing jobs for older youth;
- Mentoring a child or the entire family; or
- Starting or volunteering for an after-school program.
You or your organization can contribute money or donate goods:
- For scholarships, summer camps, field trips, or music lessons;
- For holidays, birthdays, and graduations; or
- Other items such as car seats, high chairs, toys, luggage, or clothes.
You can support agencies and the court system by:
- Recruiting foster/adoptive parents in your community;
- Hosting social events for foster/adoptive parents (picnics, parties, bowling); or
- Becoming a Guardian ad Litem (court appointed advocate for children).
Call your local Department of Children and Families office, Community-Based Care Lead Agency (CBC), family court, parent resource center or the social work department of your local university for more information about how you can make a difference.