It’s no secret: Texas’ foster care system could really use some more helping hands. And this May, National Foster Care Month, is a great time to get involved.
But where to start? Foster care – it sounds daunting, but the process doesn’t have to be. In Austin, SAFE and Helping Hand Home for Children are two organizations leading the way in foster care placement. Both host regular informational meetings (see dates below), but if showing up unprepared and under-informed inspires a sheen of cold sweat, these basics can help.
According to SAFE, there are more than 26,000 Texas children and teens in the state’s foster care system, many of whom, according to the website, have “experienced some form of abuse and/or neglect.” Of those kids, roughly 60% will eventually return to their home or be placed with a relative, meaning only about 40% are looking for a forever home. However, SAFE says there’s an urgent need for homes open to taking in teens and sibling groups of two or more.
Would-be foster (or foster-to-adopt) parents need to be at least 25-years-old and pass a criminal background check. Both organizations also require training (for SAFE that’s a minimum of 35 hours) and a home study to ensure the house and family are capable of providing a safe and supportive home. According to HHH’s guidelines, they also require guardians to:
– Have a valid driver’s license, proof of car insurance;
– Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
– Married couples must be legally bound for a year (single people are welcome to foster/adopt as well);
– Make “adequate” income outside of foster care support.
Emma Rogers, SAFE’s communications coordinator, confirms the process takes two to six months to complete. Once adults and youth are matched, both SAFE and HHH provide the new families with case management services and 24/7 on-call support.
For those hoping to help, but looking for slightly less responsibility than becoming a full-time parent, consider volunteering for CASA of Travis County. Found throughout the country, CASA recruits and trains volunteers to become advocates for children (who’ve been abused or neglected) within the court system. Every time the state is called in to protect a child’s safety, a judge appoints a CASA volunteer tasked with making recommendations on that child’s behalf. Advocates develop their recommendations by working with the child (or children if they’re siblings), family, and community members (teachers, doctors, etc.).
According to Callie Langford, CASA of Travis County’s director of communications, the local branch is one of the top 10 CASA programs in the U.S. with more than 700 volunteers supporting more than 1,750 children each year. But, just in time for National Foster Care Month, CASA is kicking it up a notch. The nonprofit currently serves children ages 5 and up, but this year they’re looking to expand their much-needed services to children as young as 2. There’s just one catch: to do so, CASA of Travis County is going to need an additional 300 new volunteers.
Langford says this plan has been in the works for several years, noting “younger children need CASA as much as older children, because they can’t speak for themselves.” CASA hopes to eventually provide their services to all Austin children in need as they grow their volunteer and funding base.
Interested parties must be at least 21 years of age and submit to a background check. Current foster parents, and those in the midst of the adoption process, are not allowed to volunteer nor are attorneys currently appointed to any cases involving Child Protective Services in Travis County. Additionally, folks with strong communication skills and comfort with basic email and word processing are encouraged to apply.
Hopeful volunteers will receive 39 hours of intensive training and participate in courtroom observation before being sworn in by a judge. To learn more visit CASA of Travis County’s volunteer webpage.
Helping Hand Home for Children hosts their next informational event this Thursday, May 3, 6-8pm at their Hyde Park campus (3804 Avenue B).
SAFE’s next info meeting is Wednesday, May 9, 6-8pm at SAFE’s Manor campus (4800 Manor Rd.). To attend, they ask you to RSVP via their online form.
This article appears in April 27 • 2018.