Your candles help to fund the
Willing Workers
For Foster Care
(WWFFC) Support Group
The WWFFC support
group, that I founded in 2002, helped the "at risk"
children that foster parents care for from the State of
Texas Juvenile Department. I wrote
a contract and my home was selected to foster these
children. The program only cared for the youth for 1 year. It
targeted our "at risk" youths to get their medical
and school needs in line with their age. It also helps them turn
their lives around so they can be positive citizens in
society. It was a tough program to work for, however, the Dunbar
Home maintained a 98% success rate.
Roger Staubach and John Wiley Price was and still is an
advocate for this foster care program.
When a child is placed in the home, they come with only the
clothes that they were wearing when they entered the justice
system. This foster care program does not pay to support the
children only to reimburse you for your monthly expenses. As we
know the food, gas, water, electric bills, and 2-3 days a
week driving children to counseling can cause your expenses
to skyrocket. Usually foster parents operate their homes with
limited income. I estimated the reimbursement to be roughly
about $1.87 an hour (this is the most the program allows to
assist in meeting the needs of the child). So often foster homes
are left to rely on outside sources to assist them such as help
from non-profit agencies and support groups.
Over a 4-year period, we cared for 26 children in our home. Out
of the 26 children, there were only 3 whose
families gave clothing to help support them; the others, the
families seem to throw the children away after seeing that their
child is safe and provided for. The families seldom show in
court for progress hearings, counseling, or interaction that is
positive. Some do not even show on the exit date when the child
is due to return back to their home provided the home is still
there.
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It's a shame that children are treated in this manner. We were
blessed to have the opportunity to know we touched their lives
and gave them something positive they could hold on to for the
rest of their lives.
Now we no longer do foster care but now support families who
care for children under child protective services
jurisdiction. Each year we select families and award them
scholarships to help in meeting their needs.
Now............. to let you know what your candles do:
Candles help to purchase---
Immediate needs (needed as each child enters the home):
Book bags, school supplies, socks, tennis shoes, under-clothes,
coats, school uniforms, hats, hoodies, tooth brushes, combs,
brushes, sanitary needs, shampoo, soap, deodorant, mouthwash.
Seasonal needs:
Christmas gifts
My largest personal supporters for WWFFC still are Mark Cuban of
the Dallas Mavericks,
Texas Rangers, Ft. Worth Zoo,
Dallas Zoo, DFW Riders Association,
and you.
Thank you for your support.
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