Kind To Kids Foundation

KIND TO KIDS FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN NEED BY MAXIMIZING OUR COMMUNITY'S RESOURCES.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - KIND TO KIDS DELIVERS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, POVERTY AND AT-RISK YOUTH. THEY INCLUDE:UGRAD ACADEMY - AN EDUCATIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, FROM GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE. THE PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, OBTAIN A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE, AND SUCCEED IN LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL IN COLLEGE OR CAREER. UGRAD ACADEMY OBTAINS EXCELLENT OUTCOMES - ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATIONS - WITH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES FOR FOSTER YOUTH OF 97% COMPARED TO THE STATE'S GRADUATION RATE OF 53% AND A NATIONAL RATE OF 56%, AS CONFIRMED BY A CORNELL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH STUDY. (KIDSCOUNTDE, 2023). THE PROGRAM HELPS FOSTER STUDENTS TO SUCCESSFULLY MOVE UP TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL, GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND TRANSITION TO COLLEGE, TRADE SCHOOL OR CAREER. IT IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN DELAWARE TO HELP YOUTH WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE AND ENTERING THE WORLD AS A YOUNG ADULT WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF A FAMILY TO SUPPORT THEM. LIFESKILLS - A COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT TEACHES CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND AT-RISK YOUTH THE STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THE TRAUMA THEY HAVE ENDURED, PREVENTATIVE SKILLS TO AVOID RE-TRAUMATIZATION AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL SKILLS TO MAKE HEALTHY DECISIONS AND SUCCEED IN LIFE. THE PROGRAM TEACHES HOW TO PROBLEM SOLVE, MANAGE EMOTIONS AND STRESS, JOB INTERVIEW AND EMPLOYMENT READINESS, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, BUDGETING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, SUICIDE PREVENTION, SELF-ESTEEM AND MORE. LIFESKILLS OBTAINS EXCELLENT OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS, WITH 95% OF CHILDREN DEMONSTRATING APPLICATION AND LEARNING OF THE SKILLS TAUGHT.

HELP-A-KID PROGRAMS - ANNUALLY SERVES OVER 500 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, POVERTY AND AT-RISK YOUTH WITH SUPPORT SERVICES TO HELP THEM SUCCEED IN LIFE. HELP-A-KID PROGRAM HELPS CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND COPING WITH TRAUMA WITH THE FOLLOWING TWO SERVICE PROGRAMS: MY BLUE DUFFEL - KIND TO KIDS DELIVERS EMERGENCY CARE KITS ANNUALLY TO CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT AND TRAUMA. KIND TO KIDS BUFFERS THE TRAUMA AND PROVIDES COMFORT TO A CHILD WHO IS ENTERING FOSTER CARE AND COPING WITH TRAUMA. MY BLUE DUFFEL ITEMS INCLUDE A TEDDY BEAR, FLEECE BLANKET, FLUFFY SOCKS, INSPIRATIONAL BOOK, COLORING BOOK, JOURNAL, WRITING SUPPLIES AND TOILETRIES. MY BLUE DUFFELS ARE PROVIDED TO DIVISION OF FAMILY SERVICES SOCIAL WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN DURING A PAINFUL TIME IN THEIR YOUNG LIVES. FOSTER CARE HOLIDAY AND BIRTHDAY KINDNESS - KIND TO KIDS MAKES HOLIDAY AND BIRTHDAYS SPECIAL FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES GIFTS TO ALL FOSTER CHILDREN SERVED IN OUR FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS - OVER 100 CHILDREN ANNUALLY. HOLIDAYS AND BIRTHDAYS ARE A SOURCE OF STRESS AND ANXIETY FOR A CHILD WHO HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR OWN HOME AND PLACED IN FOSTER CARE. EACH HOLIDAY SEASON, WE GIVE OVER $15,000 IN GIFTS AND BOOKS TO DELAWARE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. WE WORK WITH OVER 80 COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO OBTAIN AND DISTRIBUTE TOYS, BOOKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO FOSTER CHILDREN STATEWIDE. FOR MANY OF THE CHILDREN, THE GIFTS THEY RECEIVE FROM KIND TO KIDS FOUNDATION WILL BE THE ONLY ITEMS THEY RECEIVE. WE ALSO PROVIDE TOYS, GIFTS AND BOOKS OF THEIR CHOOSING TO FOSTER CHILDREN ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS TO REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE VALUED ON THEIR SPECIAL DAY.