Transformations By Austin Angels

TO WALK ALONGSIDE CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN THE FOSTER CARE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING CONSISTENT SUPPORT THROUGH INTENTIONAL GIVING, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, AND MENTORSHIP.

THE LOVE BOX PROGRAM PROVIDES FOSTERING FAMILIES (CAREGIVERS, CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, AND BIOLOGICAL/ADOPTED CHILDREN) WITH COMMUNITY AND HOLISTIC SUPPORT. THIS WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT ENABLES CAREGIVERS TO CONTINUE TO DO THE IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL WORK OF BEING FOSTER PARENTS. AS A LOVE BOX GROUP, VOLUNTEERS WILL BE MATCHED WITH A LOCAL FOSTER FAMILY BASED ON LOCATION, COMPATIBILITY, AND SCOPE OF NEEDS. WHEN OUR FAMILIES ARE MATCHED WITH COMMITTED VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOW UP MONTHLY, PARENTS FEEL SUPPORTED AND CHILDREN GAIN A GREATER SENSE OF NORMALCY, RELATIONAL PERMANENCY, AND SELF CONFIDENCE. THE LOVE BOX PROGRAM FOCUSES ON HOLISTICALLY SUPPORTING AND SUSTAINING FOSTERING FAMILIES. VOLUNTEERS SPEND TIME BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY BY PLAYING GAMES, SHARING MEALS, AND CONNECTING, WHILE ALSO DELIVERING MONTHLY PERSONAL CARE PACKAGES (REFERRED TO AS "LOVE BOXES") BASED ON THE FAMILY'S CURRENT NEEDS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE PLACEMENT STABILITY AND BUILD AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF SUPPORT AROUND THE HOME. VOLUNTEERS ARE MATCHED WITH A FOSTERING FAMILY BASED ON LOCATION, COMPATIBILITY, AND SCOPE OF NEEDS. THIS PROGRAM REQUIRES A ONE-TIME-PER-MONTH, ONE-YEAR COMMITMENT. IN 2021, THERE WERE 17 LOVE BOX MATCHES MADE, 39 CHILDREN SUPPORTED AND 202 LOVE BOXES DELIVERED.

OTHER SERVICES INCLUDING ANGEL ALLY, BACK TO SCHOOL, HOLIDAY LOVE BOX, SOCIAL WORKER APPRECIATION, AND SUNSHINE BOXES.

THE HEART OF THE DARE TO DREAM PROGRAM IS TO WALK ALONGSIDE YOUTH AS THEY NAVIGATE THROUGH LIFE'S CHALLENGES. THE YOUTH IN OUR DARE TO DREAM PROGRAM NEED THE WISDOM, ADVICE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY THAT MENTORS CAN PROVIDE. MENTORS MEET PRACTICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS AS WELL AS PROVIDE GUIDANCE THROUGH DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES. THE GOAL IS FOR YOUTH TO BE ENGAGED AND TO FEEL SUPPORTED AND EQUIPPED TO NAVIGATE LIFE. A MENTOR COMMITS TO MEETING WITH THE YOUTH EVERY OTHER WEEK TO SET GOALS AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. THESE RELATIONSHIPS WILL HOPEFULLY LAST A LIFETIME, BUT THE PROGRAM IS A YEAR COMMITMENT. MENTORS MATCHED WITH A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO STAY WITH THE YOUTH UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. THE DARE TO DREAM PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING FOR YOUTH (AGES 11-22) WHO ARE IN CARE, AT-RISK TO AGE OUT, OR HAVE AGED-OUT. MENTORS SERVE AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS WHO MEET WITH THEIR YOUTH TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND EMPOWER THEM TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS. OUR TAILORED DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE MODEL EQUIPS YOUTH TO SUCCEED AND BE PREPARED FOR ADULTHOOD. A MENTOR COMMITS TO INITIATING HANGOUTS WITH THE YOUTH TWICE MONTHLY TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP, SET AND ACCOMPLISH GOALS, AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. IN 2021, 3 DARE TO DREAM MATCHES WERE MADE AND 11 MENTORS WERE ONBOARDED.