Ministry to Foster Families
Transition Back Transition Backpacks
Provide backpacks that are gender- and age-specific filled with items to help relieve the stress and trauma of the separation from their families. Your local provider can give you a list of needs. A church in north Georgia gave us this idea. They make up the backpacks and then give them to the local Bethany Christian Services office. After the child is brought into the custody of the office, they are given the backpack to help them in their transition.
Throw a Party
Host a holiday party/picnic or activity day for the children in foster care. Invite families to come and be a part of the celebration, or offer the foster parents an opportunity to get away for a couple of hours while you treat the kids to a great time.
Baby Shower
Host a baby shower to provide diapers, clothes, etc. for foster children. Work in conjunction with your local provider to determine the needs.
Camp Scholarships
Offer scholarships for the camps offered by the church to youth and children who are in foster care.
Gifts
Provide gifts and supplies for Christmas, Easter baskets, or birthdays. Your local foster care provider can give you a list of needs.
Back-to-School Backpacks
At the beginning of the school year, offer backpacks filled with school supplies to foster children. If you want to get really specific, ask your local foster care provider for a list of grades and schools attended. Most school systems now provide a list of supplies needed for particular schools, grades, and even classes. To take this a step further, make it a really fun day by connecting with some specific families; take the children with you to do the shopping, and allow them to pick out their own backpacks and notebooks. End the day with trip to a fast food restaurant.
Respite Care
Recruit families to provide respite care for foster families. Talk with the local foster care provider to determine the qualifications for a respite family.
Community Service Day
Hold a community service day for volunteers to help foster families with odd jobs (painting rooms, assembling swing sets, etc.). Careful planning by working with the families directly can produce a fun and profitable day. Your church or ministry might even consider purchasing a swing set or other toys for a foster family and then help them by assembling the equipment. You could also offer a complete house cleaning, such as shampooing rugs, cleaning windows, and doing yard work.
Links to Other Websites
About.com Foster Care Support Ideas