I can remember looking into the face of “M” in my rearview mirror on her first day in our home and thinking I had never seen a child so young (M was three) look so sad. After all this time, it’s still hard to describe the ‘look’ of children on their first day in foster care. Hurt beyond their years. Scared out of their wits. Running through the house and hiding behind the sofa. Crying in their room. Curled up in a ball at the front door when we wake up the next morning.
Slowly, we gain their trust. We learn what makes them laugh and what is scary. What they like to eat and whether they can sleep if we turn out the lights. We learn that they like to dance, or sing, or swim; and we try to fill up their lives with the things they love, to overcome some of the things going on in their lives that are so difficult.
Raising Quality of Life for Children in Foster Care
For “K” it was gymnastics. She loved to walk on the tightrope, jump on the trampoline and help the younger kids in her class. Then it was swim. We have a backyard pool and from the first time she jumped in, she was fearless – too fearless – and we knew she needed swim lessons.
I’m writing about “K” because she’s one of more than 5,000 children in foster care served by the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation last year. We pay for awards for social, athletic and educational opportunities for children in foster care across the state. Swim lessons, gymnastics, baseball registration, martial arts, driver’s education, summer camp, music lessons, prom dresses, graduation expenses and more are among the expenses we help families cover.
Every day, the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation improves the life of a child in foster care, and helps to replace the foster care ‘look’ with the look of a child who is less fearful and more hopeful.
To get involved with AFFCF or make a tax credit eligible donation, click here.
Kris Jacober, Executive Director, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation