Theme: Black History Month
Words: 184
Every February, our country honors African-American culture during Black History Month. It’s a
time of celebration, but also a time to reflect on the hardships African Americans have faced
and continue to face. The ongoing struggle is reflected in the fact that a disproportionate
number of African-American children are in foster care. According to a report from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services published in June 2016, 24 percent of foster
children are African-American. However, African-American children make up 14 percent of the
total number of children in the U.S. As our society works to solve the underlying issues that
result in children being placed in foster care, our communities can help provide a stable,
nurturing environment in which they can thrive. We at NAME OF ORG and our volunteer
advocates work on behalf of foster children in NAME OF COUNTY to ensure their needs are met
and help them find a safe, permanent home. Join us by becoming a CASA volunteer, or Court
Appointed Special Advocate, and help a foster child have the support they need and the
advocacy they deserve.
Sources:
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/afcarsreport23.pdf
Theme: Love and caring
Words: 195
Most of us have memories of being hugged by our parents, being read a story and lovingly
tucked into bed at night. These demonstrations of caring are something that we later do with
our own children; they’re the bonds that help us feel connected, safe, and loved. Consider what
life is like for a foster child, removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, whose parents
are too unstable or abusive to care for them. Foster children have been taken from all they
know, are usually separated from their siblings, and are moved from one foster placement to
another over the course of months, years, and, sometimes, for their entire childhoods. You can
help a foster child feel special by becoming a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate, or
CASA, with NAME OF ORG. We will provide all the training you need, and support you during
your volunteer service. As a CASA, you will work one-on-one with a foster child or sibling group
to ensure their needs are met. As importantly, you will give a child the consistent, focused
attention they need, and make sure they get the love they deserve from a forever family.