Fostering Hope Ministry
A Ministry offering Mentoring,
Resources
and Services to Foster Youth
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How You Can Help
Our Mission
To form a community of believers who can help foster youth in care as well
as those who have recently “aged out” of the foster care system to build
a life of hope and a better future for themselves. To fulfill this mission,
Fostering Hope partners with churches and social service agencies in Ventura
County to provide Christian mentors, service providers and resources to
foster youth. The ministry supports mentors with prayer, fellowship, coaching
and resources.
How You Can Help:
1. Mentor a foster youth
2. Teach a skill or offer a service
3. Provide needed resources
1. Mentoring
What is a mentor?
A mentor is someone who comes alongside a foster youth for the purpose of
being a positive influence, helping them to develop their strengths and
fulfill their potential.
What do mentors do?
Mentors develop a supportive relationship by spending time with the young
person. They are both teachers and listeners offering encouragement and
guidance. They help the young person solve problems, access resources and
develop the skills and interests needed to build a life of hope.
Who do they mentor?
Mentors are always matched by gender. The age of the foster youth determines
the specific mentoring goals. Mentors decide which age group they prefer.
9 - 15 years. Younger foster youth in care. They can be in a group home or with a foster parent. The specific mentoring goal for this age group is to expose them to different experiences and help them develop their interests. Time spent together include special outings, museums, theater, sports, music, outdoor activities etc.
15 ½ -18 years. Older foster youth in care. This is the time when the youth need to prepare for emancipation. At 18, foster youth “age out” of the system and need to be equipped to find housing, a job, transportation, and have the skills to budget and live independently. They need mentors who will help them access resources and prepare for this transition out of the foster care system.
18-24 years. Emancipated foster youth. They have already aged out of the system but continue to need help learning how to live independently as an adult. Mentors advise, guide and help them connect with needed resources.
Up to 18 years. The courts can appoint volunteers called CASA (court appointed special advocates} to serve as both a mentor and an advocate for a foster youth in care. The responsibilities of advocates include writing reports, attending placement meetings and making recommendations for the child.
What do Fostering Hope Mentors commit to?
1. Positive Christian role model. Mentors need to model Christ’s love in
action. They need to be members of a church, have previous ministry experience,
and be active in their own spiritual growth.
2. Time. Mentors need to spend an average of 1-2 hours a week helping and spending time with their foster youth for a minimum of 12 months.
3. Stability. Mentors need to have the time to commit and the means to be
reliable and dependable. They need to have a car, no criminal record and
complete a background check and screening interview.
4. Community. Mentors are not expected to be the only ones involved. Mentors access resources and help the foster youth become a part of the larger community.
5. Mentor Coaching. Mentors are expected to participate in trainings, coaching
and prayer groups for their own support and growth.
2. Teach a Skill, or Offer a Service
Building life skills is one of the major tasks that foster youth of all
ages need. These skills include: school, interests, social relationships,
job, budgeting, technology, etc. By offering your talents, you would be providing
a time limited service to the youth. The information is kept in our database
and mentors make direct contact on an as needed basis.
3. Provide Needed Resources
Housing is an important factor for emancipating foster youth. When they
age out at 18 years, they have to immediately find a place to live and support
themselves. As a result, many become homeless. We would like to have funds
and resources available to help them successfully accomplish this first step.
Other needs include scholarships funds, transportation and donations of goods
and activities.
How to Get Involved
Take the next step and fill out an application because our hope is that
as you share your love and use your talents to foster hope in the lives of
these young people, your good works will be a light that shines and brings
praise to our Father in heaven.
What to do:
1. Complete the Fostering Hope Application
Form
(Word
.doc) | ( .rtf
version)
Right click a link and "save target" to
your hard drive
2. Email application form
to·
John Franklin, or send to:
ACTION Foundation
406 Constitution Ave.
Camarillo, CA 93012
3. Mentor applicants
a. Once we review your application, we will contact you to discuss the appropriate
area of ministry for you. Once that has been decided, we will put you in
contact with that agency that handles the matches for the age group you have
selected. You will be in contact directly with the agency and they will
explain how to complete their application, screening and training requirements.
b. That agency will then make the match and oversee the process.
c. Once you are matched or in the process of being matched you will attend
the Fostering Hope Ministry Support Meetings led by a ministry coach.
These meetings are held once a month and provide you with support, prayer,
coaching and resources. See our website (www.actionvc.org)
for times and locations.
4. Skills and Resource applicants
You will be contacted by a Fostering Hope Team member.
Contact:
For
more information, please contact the Fostering Hope Team:
·
John Franklin, ACTION Coordinator
·
Diane Hultgren, Ministry Coordinator
·
Wendy Gregson, Mentor Coordinator
Jeremiah 29:11 –
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Quick links to:
Our Mission
How You Can Help
Mentoring
Teach a Skill or Offer a Service
Provide Needed Resources
How to Get Involved
What to Do
Application Form:
(Word
.doc) | ( .rtf
version)
Right click a link and "save target"
to your hard drive.
Contact Info
Fostering Hope Mentor
Support Meetings
Opportunities to Serve
Organizations to Contact
Financial Support Opportunities
Fostering Hope Team
· Diane Hultgren
Ministry Coordinator
· Wendy Gregson
Mentor Coordinator
· John Franklin
ACTION Coordinator