This the second article in a series about how to get involved with the orphans of the world, even if you are not currently able to adopt. The first article talked about how to participate in child sponsorship.
Another great way to get involved with these kids is through mentoring. There are a lot of great opportunities to mentor children who are in state care.
Why should you mentor a child? Kids in foster care have very few constants in their lives. Adults have come and gone with alarming rapidity. Often these kids feel that no one is “on their side”, that no one cares about them. This is why mentoring is so important. Children realize that a mentor is there just for them. He or she is someone who cares and someone who wants to be in their lives. A mentor is someone who is there because they want to be. Often kids in state care feel that their case workers and foster parents are only involved in their lives because they have to be. Additionally, these kids are often “one of many” in their foster homes or group homes. A mentor is someone who can focus just on them and provide much-needed attention and a listening ear.
Mentoring a child in foster care is simple and can be a lot of fun. Mentoring might mean dropping by to take a child to a movie or out to ice cream. Additionally, a mentor might try to be there for important sporting events or other extracurricular activities. These simple gestures mean a great deal to these children and can make a huge difference in their lives.
How do you get involved? Contact your city’s child welfare office. Or, contact a private foster care agency such as Buckner Children and Family Services. These agencies can help match you with a child who needs you. Getting involved does take a little bit if your time and effort, but the rewards, both now and in the future, are endless.