Volunteer Roles
With FaithBridge, you don't have to be a foster parent to be a part of the foster care solution.
There are a number of different ways you can help.
Transportation
You can transport a foster child to and from medical, dental, counseling, and family visitation appointments.
The medical and dental visits are generally done by the foster parents, so the volunteer role is one of
backup in these instances. The need is usually for a scheduled appointment, and transportation volunteers
will usually know about the appointment a week or more in advance. Of course, there are instances that
arise from time to time that may require a same-day response.
Respite and Childcare
Childcare involves caring for a foster child for a few hours at a time. Foster families utilize childcare for things like date nights, personal appointments, foster parent training, and short-term emergencies. This is the same kind of childcare that any family might need to access.
Respite care involves caring for children overnight away from the foster family home and requires the
volunteers to complete the same training and approval process as a foster family. Respite families are
most often utilized to provide a weekend break for the foster family. This may include caring for both
the foster and biological children of a foster family. The foster family may also utilize respite care
in the event that the foster child does not accompany the foster family on a family trip (vacation, etc.).
Tutoring and Mentoring
Foster children often come into care a grade behind in school. This is not hard to understand
given the trauma they endure, perhaps multiple times. A consultant on the FaithBridge team will develop
an education plan for the child. Tutoring volunteers work in homes with the children to help bring them up
to grade level. To serve as a tutor, a bachelor's degree is required.
Mentors commit to spending time with foster children in areas of interest to the child.
This ranges from ball games to ballet and is usually accomplished on a couple of weekend days per month.
This role is especially important with adolescent and teenage children.
Resources
At the time children are placed in care, a FaithBridge consultant will bring the child(ren) to the family.
As the child(ren) arrives, the resource coordinator will be responsible to ensure that the appropriate
clothing, cribs, car seats, formula, baby food, and personal hygiene items are delivered to the family.
Volunteers will pick up and deliver clothing and supplies. Meal preparation and delivery will also be
arranged by the resource coordinator and carried out by volunteers.
