Rachel M. Ewald is the founder and chairwoman of Foster Care Support Foundation, Inc. The Foster Care Support Foundation FCSF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides clothing, equipment, and toys to at least 3000 foster and displaced children throughout the state of Georgia annually. The services are free for those raised on basic state per-diem and for grandparents and relatives raising their grandchildren, nieces or nephews without the biological parent/s present in the home. In 1996, Ewald began collecting and distributing clothing and toy donations from neighbors to give to local foster children in need. The program and need grew quickly and the Foundation was incorporated in 2000. Ewald, a foster parent herself of fourteen years to over 50 children and mother of four biological children, understood the difficulty of raising a child on fifty to seventy five cents per hour. The center allows for more foster parents to afford to care for state children, while also allowing the children to acquire their own clothes, toys, and be much like any other child after losing everything when pulled from their biological homes. The organization's donation/distribution center, located at 115 Mansell Place in Roswell GA is set up like a retail store and is fully stocked with clothing, toys, bikes, highchairs, and other necessities, where foster parents throughout the state can come, by appointment, and shop for free. Rachel Ewald has also written a set of transition guidelines "Healthy Children, Healthy Adults" for foster care and adoption, with the intent of reducing disruption and trauma in foster and adoptive home and when reunifying children with their biological families.
The Foundation provides an event called 'Prom-A-Palooza' in February where teen girls in foster and group homes including relative care homes from all over the State of Georgia attend to select prom a dress, jewelry, shoes, accessories and make up with consultation so that they can be a part of their own high school proms with their friends. This is a wonderful event that is always rewarding for all involved. Funded by private individual donations, corporate and foundation grants and faith based organizations, Foster Care Support receives no government or federal money for the program but is a private/public partnership with the State Division of Family and Children's Services. Funds and sponsors are always needed to operate the foundation as she continues to reach out to thousands of children across the State needing FCSF's services. New to Foster Care Support Foundation is the Hope 4 Tomorrow mentoring pilot program which teams up teens with professional and caring adults to help mentor and guide teens through their middle and high school years to prepare them as they age out of the foster care system into adult life.
Video Rachel Ewald
Recognition
Rachel Ewald has been recognized by many groups and organizations throughout the United States for her efforts in changing the face of foster care. Awards include the 2003 Commissioners Award for the state of Georgia by Governor Sonny Perdue, the 2003 daily Points of Light Foundation Award, the 2002 DHR Beacon of Light Award, the Casey Family Foundation's Ruth Massinga Award in January 2009, the CCAI's Angels in Adoption award in Sept of 2009 nominated by Congressman Tom Price, received a proclamation from the Georgia House for the work done to help foster children in Georgia in 2011 along with the Womenetics award and in 2012/13 was honored with the Spirit Award from AIBTV. The Home Depot Building Community Day Award was given to the Foster Care Support Foundation in November 2009 for recognition in serving children in Georgia's foster care system, and the National Association of Professional Organizers(NAPO) Organization Excellence Award in 2016. Ewald serves on the State CAPTA committee and also served for four years on Governor Sonny Perdue's Office of Children and Families Advisory Board.
Maps Rachel Ewald
Related links
- Foster Care Support Non-profit organization providing free clothing, toys, and equipment to foster children throughout the state of Georgia.
- Too many stops Audio documentary documenting former foster child's life story. Aired on CBC Radio Outfront on September 12, 2002.
- Adoptioninformation.com - Wiki-style site for everything adoption and foster.
- FosterParenting.com Extensive resource about foster parenting and foster care.
- Aging Out Aging Out is a documentary produced by PBS that chronicles the obstacles faced by teens who 'age out' of the foster care system.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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