Hope For Our Children is a program for raising awareness about the plight of the foster child in the Darling Downs region, inviting the families of our city to take part in the chance to change a life & give love, hope and a home.
As of 2013, there were almost 8,000 children in out-of-home care in Queensland. What a huge number of children to be living in limbo! These children need a safe place to call home and are currently living without their parents. James 1:27 puts out the call that we as the body of Christ are to look after the Widows & the Orphans – the foster child is the Australian orphan.
If this call resonates with you and your family & if you are interested in becoming more involved with the foster care system, there are many ways to support a foster child with different levels of commitment. Whatever you choose to do, please contact us at the City Women office as we would love to hear your story and support you.
The following are descriptions of different roles, all important and impacting to a foster child’s life.
Full time foster carer: An approved family/couple or single person, prepared to offer a foster child a place in their home. This role is one which requires training and approval through an accredited agency.
Respite Carer: An approved carer who can offer full time foster carers and children a break. Often requires opening your home for a period of time, often being a weekend or week long timeframe.
Pyjama Angel: A mentor role, giving approximately 1hr of your time a week, doing activities like reading with a foster child.
We at HFOC love giving the gift of a bag filled with goodies to children recently removed or facing a transition. Our backpacks are distributed through the different foster care providers in our region or through the Department of Child Safety in the South West Qld area which includes Toowoomba, Roma & Ipswich.
Items included are: travel toiletries, brush, underwear, socks, Pj’s, book, hat, water bottle, small rug, toy & stationery. Brand new donations can be dropped off to 10 Neil St Toowoomba between 8.30-4.30, Mon-Fri.
Therapy Dogs
Hope for OUR Children’s therapy dog will sit with children when they are transitioning to care and when they need to give evidence in court. It can be difficult for a child who has experienced trauma to accurately retell events. They will often have sensory memories such as the clock ticking, the bed squeaking or the door closing but don’t always remember sequencing. Providing a calming sensory stimulation such as a therapy dog that the child can sit with, pat and cuddle, can help their brain unwind and recall memories more clearly. This can mean clearer evidence which results in better justice for our children.
Your donation will help us continue supporting vulnerable children.
