Bates Mission’s Post

As youth experiencing foster care get closer to their 18th birthday, they get closer to aging out. If some type of permanency hasn’t been achieved, the future can be totally uncertain. Without a support system, or a defined opportunity to get a job or continue education, the future is not just uncertain – in many cases, it’s set up to fail and fall into the downstream cycles we’re passionately trying to disrupt. For many, instability has been a constant companion. Some have never known the stability and security that we might take for granted. For 47% of current foster youth, homelessness isn’t an idea. It’s an experience they’ve personally faced with their biological families before being removed. Cut to their 18th birthday, and they find themselves in a position that mirrors the circumstances of their childhood. Here’s the sobering truth: without intervention, the pattern of homelessness may persist, perpetuating the cycle for generations to come. Our programs were developed to break these cycles through mentorship, and radical community. We're empowering youth to claim their futures despite their past. You can take part in this work in a life-changing way. When hundreds of individuals like you come together to invest $10/month, $25/month, $50/month – powerful and sustainable change becomes possible. Generational change becomes possible. You can use your influence to change the statistics. Will you join us today? Visit: https://lnkd.in/gSvuKvmj *Statistical sources can be found at https://lnkd.in/gDWtFTaH #NationalAngels #FosterCare #HomelessnessAwareness #FosterCareAwareness #EducationForAll #Foster #NFCM #Education #changethestats #OlympicAngels #OlympicPeninsula #volunteer #lovebox #mentor #daretodream #community #fostercarecommunity #nonprofit #donate #fostercarenonprofit

👏 Relationships are essential.👏 Tangible things - backpacks, shoes, Christmas presents - those are important, but relationships for kids and caregivers in the foster care community are essential. 💫 A well-supported foster home means they don't get overwhelmed as easily and that their home stays open longer. If caregivers keep their homes open to kids in need, kids on the Olympic Peninsula stay IN THEIR COMMUNITY. Relationships mean kids in care feel seen, important, and loved. They learn to trust and regulate themselves. Relationships - volunteers who give their time, heart, and connections to the foster care community - are how we change the way foster care is experienced. Can you give your time to make life better for the foster care community and change outcomes for generations to come? If you don't have capacity, can you donate? Get involved today - anyone can make life better for a child in care: olympicangels.org #foster #fostercare #relationships #trama #TBRI #traumainformed #volunteer #mentor #lovebox #daretodream #relationalpermanency #relationalpermanence #stability #consistency #donate #nonprofit #community #fostercarecommunity #fostercarenonprofit #olympicangels #nationalangels #olympicpeninsula #selfregulation #regulation #coregulation #trust

What if Olympic Angels didn't exist? 🛑 Hundreds of children and dozens of fostering families would be unsupported -> 🛑 Kids would get moved off of the Olympic Peninsula because of a lack of available foster homes... away from their school, community, friends, church, their library, and all of the familiar places, smells, and sounds that they know. 50% of foster homes close within their first year. But Love Box volunteers increase the support and stability of caregivers, decreasing the number of children moving from home to home.⁠ ⁠ The more stability a child in foster care has, the better their outcomes. You can be a part of creating a supported, consistent home for children experiencing foster care. 🧡⁠ ⁠ Learn more or submit a volunteer application to be a part of community-supported foster care: olympicangels.org/lovebox #foster #fostercare #fostercarecommunity #fostercarenonprofit #lovebox #daretodream #mentor #volunteer #olympicpeninsula #changethestats #community #nonprofit #donate #portangeles #portangelespubliclibrary #porttownend #sequim #stability #placementstability

A survey sent to all foster parents in MN revealed only 17% reported they felt supported by a community of other foster parents. Foster Together MN built the community for foster parents. I didn't need a survey to know that less than at least 17% of new salesforce admins feel that the community fails to provide them real experience before entering the profession. Making "Experience" happen became my personal challenge this year. In 2024, seven salesforce professionals began implementation on a brand new Salesforce org for Foster Together. Last night, we completed our first sprint. The first demo, of many, and the first impressions from the board members crystalized our shared vision. I'm committed to removing the excuse "not enough experience" from employers' vocabulary. Thank goodness these foster parents aren't also told they can't start their family because they also "don't have enough experience". It takes a community to launch a salesforce career. It takes a community to strengthen a family. These concepts are not different. It's Ohana. Consider supporting this nonprofit as they support us. https://lnkd.in/gyVPgZ7T I'm accepting employer applications for these talented Admins and BA's. Tena Stromgren, Mariam Maurice, Jackson Day, Marlena Schutz, William Moran, and Greg Woods. This team has laid the foundation for Salesforce talent to come. Setting up full stack development, DevOps procedures, and new CRM functionality. These platforms will allow us to deliver solutions as a large "enterprise" team for a "small" nonprofit. When one gets hired, another can step in. Consider donating $17 to fight this feeling that the job market is unfair. Consider donating $17 to fight for families that feel alone. Consider donating $17 to show the world that 17% of parents feeling they belong to a community is too low.

😃Help us get kickstarted! ALL OF FEBRUARY we’re trying to raise AT LEAST 20k to get kick started. You can give there! Big or small, every dollar counts! Here’s what we’re trying to get started with… >> Getting resources to our young adults who have aged out. Food, hygiene products, basic household needs, furniture, gas cards etc… >> Resources to foster families as needed. >> The Crown Project… access hair care/ braids/protective styles for the black community in foster care and young adults who have aged out (52% of our kids in foster care in our kick off county are African American, more needs to be done for people of color who have specific needs). Also providing things like bonnets for kids in foster care. >> Assistance with senior year things that are not covered by DCS... Like being able to get hair, nails and make up done for prom. >> Provide new shoes and clothes as needed. These are just a few things that we’re aiming to get kickstarted this year! Our ultimate goal is to have a building that’s serving as a place of help and community for kids, and young adults who are or have experienced the foster system, and the families and case workers who support them. Then we want to see this happen countrywide. We’ve got big dreams!!!! We can’t wait to see them happen!!! These look like big goals for just us. But we know that as a community, if we all jump in, we can make this happen EASILY! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 https://lnkd.in/ePNy6zAK #nonprofit #nashvillenonprofit #charity #nashvillecharity #fostercare #nashvillefostercare

Mid-year program numbers are in! 💥⁠ ⁠ Our solutions to the foster care crisis are the Love Box family support program and the Dare to Dream youth mentor program. Our programs use a trauma-informed, wrap-around service model that strengthens relationships between foster families, youth in foster care, biological families, and community members. Through community-supported foster care, our programs create relational permanency which dramatically changes the outcomes for kids and families experiencing foster care. 💫 ⁠ Are you interested in becoming a volunteer or know a fostering family or youth in care who could benefit from this kind of wrap-around support? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gRjBBwSx ⁠ #foster #fostercare #fosterfamily #community #fostercarecommunity #nonprofit #fostercarenonprofit #volunteer #mentor #lovebox #daretodream #donate #olympicangels #nationalangels #olympicpeninsula #impact #impactreport

Olympic Angels volunteers regularly model self-regulation for kids experiencing foster care. It’s a skill that most adults have built over time - either through practicing or by someone modeling it for them throughout their lives. Kids in foster care gain this skill through supportive relationships and stable environments. Volunteers can greatly influence a child’s life through co-regulation - coaching them on how to build independent regulation skills and thrive in the world. You may not know them, but they need you - learn more about volunteering and how you can change the outcomes for kids in foster care: olympicangels.org Co-regulation video from The Administration for Children and Families: https://lnkd.in/gmawahjH @administration-for-children-and-families #foster #fostercare #coregulation #regulation #TBRI #volunteer #lovebox #mentor #daretodream #community #fostercarecommunity #olympicangels #nationalangels #donate #nonprofit #fostercarenonprofit #olympicpeninsula

How do you raise a foster child combined with a biological family? The same way you would with more biological children. There are growing pains but overall, you are teaching them how to exist in this world to the best of their ability and how to be successful in what they want to accomplish. You are giving them a loving family for however long they are with you. A stable place to grow and learn together. You are allowing opportunities for them to redefine normal. This allows them to start breaking generational cycles of experiencing foster care. While there are technical differences, like maybe the state or bio parents or the GAL gets to have a say in what happens to your kids who are in foster care, they shouldn't be able to tell that they are situationally different by how you or your inner circle treats them. They should be able to see that even when they get to be reunified with their family, there will always be a seat at the table for them. Here we are at Fall Creek Falls State Park together having an amazing time! #fostercare #adoption #nonprofit #donate #giveback #loveup #fosteryouth #children #fosterkids #parenting #love #fosterparents #fostermom #getinvolved #purpose #fosterstatistics #fostering #agingout #fostergraduates #bible #godsword #jesus #christianbookkeeper #christian #fosterlove #fosterfamilies #fostercarestories #fostercaremonth

As young adults transition out of foster care, it's crucial to provide them with the necessary supports for a successful path forward. Investing in areas like housing, transportation, and employment can make all the difference in their journey to becoming healthy, independent adults. #partnershipsmatter #caresourceemployee #fostercareawareness #missiondriven

It's difficult to fully grasp. One in five. 20% of the state prison population has experienced foster care and about 70% of youth who exit foster care as legal adults will be arrested at least once by age 26. We’ve been talking about the statistics all month, and the cycles they create. From educational barriers, disproportionate suspensions and expulsions, multiple placements, no relational permanency or place to call home…it all contributes to this alarming reality. These numbers are unacceptable, but we firmly believe they can be prevented. People have the power to take action to prevent and avoid these cyclical outcomes. Prevention is about taking proactive steps – and that's precisely what our programs facilitate. They intentionally connect people to one another. They create spaces where people can build connection, trust, and community. They equip young people with the tools and resources they need to navigate life’s challenges. Our programs nurture their immense potential through one-to-one mentorship and unwavering belief – and it can change the trajectory of their lives. What's needed is people like you willing to stand in the gap. That’s what it takes. You can take part in this work in a life-changing way. YOU can stand in the gap! When individuals come together to invest $10/month, $25/month, $50/month – powerful and sustainable change becomes possible. Together, we can make generational change a reality. The power of people. The power of YOU. Will you join us today? Say yes by clicking: https://lnkd.in/gSvuKvmj #BreakingTheCycle #EmpoweredBySupport #DareToDream #FosterCare #Foster #HomelessnessAwareness #FosterCareAwareness #EducationForAll #NFCM #Education #changethestats #OlympicAngels #NationalAngels #OlympicPeninsula #volunteer #lovebox #mentor #community #fostercarecommunity #nonprofit #donate #fostercarenonprofit *Statistical sources can be found at https://lnkd.in/gDWtFTaH