VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Calling all people who have a heart for foster children and some time to volunteer- or know people that do: Jennifer Keener is a CPS social work intern with the University of Washington and has identified a serious need for kids entering the foster care system. She is working with Children’s Administration to organize a program called Office Moms and Dads to be available for when they place children in protective custody and wait at the office until a foster placement can be organized. When a child is placed into protective custody by a CPS case worker it is because these children were in direct danger due to neglect or abuse and CPS had the legal obligation to intervene. The kiddos come back to the office and hang out with the worker while the worker sends out e-mails and make calls requesting emergency foster placement, and then go about the rest of the day investigating other cases of abuse and neglect on their caseload until a foster placement can be found (usually not until the end of the day- like 6, 7 or 9 pm). They have nothing with them- even the babies. The office does not have an efficient or caring way of taking care of these kids while they are under the DSHS roof- and she wants to change that. The administration has given permission to designate a secured room to implement the Office Moms and Dads program (here is a link to Oregon’s program: embraceoregon.org/join-us/office-moms-and-dads ). Jennifer Keener says: I AM GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN here in South King County! I hope to implement this program early next year (January or February) and we need volunteers!! Lots of volunteers. We need people to come and hang out with kiddos, play with them, read to them, meet their needs, put together a backpack of clothes and toys for them, help them feel safe during the hours of 9am and 5pm in Downtown Kent. We usually place 6-16 children into protective custody a week in the South King County Office. If you are available to help in any way please contact me at JenniferJoyKeener@gmail. You will need to pass a DSHS background check and attend a training.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 04:34:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015