VKB | Foster Care Survival Kits

foster care survival kits

BE A HERO TO A KID IN FOSTER CARE

Rightly so, most people are focused on the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19. But did you know that children are secondary victims of the coronavirus?

Anytime kids are at home for long stretches of time with financially-strapped and emotionally-stressed parents, incidences of child abuse and neglect go up.

Teachers are the number one reporters of abuse and neglect, and if kids are out of school and away from teachers for months at a time, abuse and neglect remains unknown to those who can help stop it.

So while the virus itself affects adults, the solution to ensure it doesn’t spread - schools closings, social isolation, and quarantines - hurt kids.

here is the good news

Thousands of Virginians are stepping up to take care of vulnerable children - they are called foster parents. Right now, these foster families are experiencing the same changes, loss of control and child care challenges that we all are. However, foster families are enduring the new normal while raising kids from hard places inside their own places of sanctuary - their homes.

Even before the coronavirus hit, 50% of foster family quit within the first year, most often due to a lack of social support. Virginia simply can’t afford foster parents to get burned out while also facing an increase of kids coming into care.

What can YOU to do help?

*Due to Virginia's Stay-At-Home order being lifted May 16th, we are no longer assembling

Foster Care Survival Kits with various small items.

But there are specific ways YOU can still help foster families adapt to the new normal.

3 ways to do it:

MEET SPECIAL NEEDS

During this time, many families are still running into issues meeting the special needs of the children in their care. Help us meet those special requests by donating cash via our secure donation page.

GIVE

Donate gift cards

Now that more businesses will start opening up, families can get some much needed items that they've had to do without! Mail gift cards to essential and Phase 1 stores for us to distribute to families. Mail to VKB (address below)

EXAMPLES

Donate

tabletS

Help these children stay connected to their birth parents, siblings, friends, and other loved ones during this time through purchasing a discounted Amazon tablet. Mail to VKB (address below).

BUY

mailing address

virginia's kids belong

2101 maywill st

richmond, va 23230

“This kit is a game-changer! School is out til fall, counseling appointments are canceled indefinitely, and adjusting to life without all of normal routines is hard for anyone. But for kids from hard places who thrive on structure, it’s even harder. Not only do we feel appreciated as foster parents, but my kid feels seen and loved."

- Richmond Foster Mom

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE!