Restoring Dignity to ALL Kids
OUR STORY
Restoring dignity
Kids N Care is a nonprofit agency providing emotional support to children in foster care through the distribution of “Care Bags”. Care Bags are travel bags containing toiletries and a personalized book explaining what to expect in foster care. Care Bags are used when children are transported to different placements. The organization forms partnerships with local CASA organizations, Child Protective Services, local school districts, and juvenile court systems. Kids N Care alleviate the burden of traveling to different places in plastic/trash bags. We restore the dignity to all foster children by displaying empathy for their situation and assisting to make their transition as easy as possible.
Through the assistance of “Care Bags,” a sense of individual worth is established, giving children the needed courage to successfully accept unconventional changes that will inevitably benefit them throughout their youthful years.
Care Bags for Every Child
Fears of the unknown, failures of caregivers and mistrust in the system, foster care children have lost faith in the possibilities that await them if they are not prepared and mentored successfully at the beginning of their transition. To accomplish this goal, young people must be in a caring, inclusive environment that promotes their best effort and reinforces personal respect. The first step to this process is ensuring they do not feel castaway or like “garbage” by transporting their items in trash bags.
Kids N Care is a program in direct response to the growing number of young people that are in foster care. When families are unable to provide proper luggage for the children, they are removed from the home with their personal belongings in trash bags. Should the child be moved to more than one temporary placement or foster home, usually moved again with their personal items in trash bags. The focus is to restore self-worth and pride to every child regardless of their current living situation.
As Kids N Care Grow
The organization intends to create a mentoring program that will pair each youth with a mentor for 12-18 months, the duration of their CPS case. During that time, the two will participate in bi-weekly planned activities to strengthen the relationship between and improve the young person's confidence and hopefulness. Mentors will receive continuous training throughout the year and will participate in monthly meetings to report the young person's progress. The mentor will continue periodic contact with the child up to six months after release from CPS care.
Over time, Kids N Care will create a supportive environment that will be an invaluable resource to children in foster care, aspiring mentors and the community at large.
Learn more about Care Bags
Care Bags are duffle bags made with love and filled with hope.
Toiletries
Hygiene items catered to Girls and Boys will be provided in each Care Bag
Descriptive Book
"Just for Now" is a kid friendly book explaining the process of Foster Care.
Mentors
The children will be provided the contact information for their Advocate volunteer or a Mentor provided to them by Kids N Care
Our Services
Kids N Care offers youth, that are already in foster care, Care Bags completed with toiletries, and a book describing what it means to be in Foster Care and the process. Children are also automatically provided a Advocate volunteer or a Kids n Care Mentor. Kids n Care volunteers specialize in the “aftercare” of children once they are no longer in CPS custody
Care Bags
Care Bags are the central program of Kids N Care. Care Bags are duffle bags provided to each child in foster care to carry their personal belongings to an alternative placement. In each Care Bag, the children are provided a book that explains the foster care process. It also includes age-appropriate toiletries.
After School Mentoring Program
Children meet with their mentors and participate in a structured program of support. Mentors and mentees participate in an energizing retreat, followed by a 12-18-month structured program that includes monthly team-building and group activities. The program ends with graduation but the mentor and youth remain in contact for the following six months. Ages 12-21
SEAAS- Special Education Assessment and Advocacy Services
At Kids N Care, we provide developmental diagnoses in partnership with licensed evaluators, school psychologists, and various therapy professionals for individuals outside the school system. Our experts offer evaluation and advocacy support tailored to families and children. Services are charged based on family income using a sliding scale, ensuring accessibility for everyone. Let us help you and support your child's developmental needs!
Tutorial services
Tailor Made program developed for remediation and acceleration of learning. Our unique program evaluates each student individually to access their level in Reading and Math. Once a level is established, a program is created to meet the academic need of each student.