Healing for Kids in Crisis

Vital Stats

Camille K

Irvine, CA

People Doing It0

The Problem

Child Abuse and neglect is a major cause of youth homelessness and the vicious cycle (trap) of poverty. For Foster Youth In California alone: 65% emancipated youth (transition to adulthood) are without a place to live; Former foster youth make up 40% of the homeless shelter population, even though foster children comprise less than 0.3% of the state’s population; and, 51% of youth are unemployed within 2-4 years of emancipation. Furthermore, child Abuse and neglect is a major cause of social conditions that contribute to poverty, family homelessness and other social ills. In just California... · Child abuse and neglect contributes to kids not getting an education: 43% of foster youth are moved 3 or more times and 11% are moved 5 or more times; it takes approximately 4-6 months for a child to recover academically after changing schools; Changing schools during high school diminishes the chances for graduation; 46% of teens leaving the foster care system have NOT completed high school, versus 16% of the general population; fewer than 10% of foster youth who graduate high school go on to college; fewer than 2% of those receive a college degree. · Child abuse and neglect contributes to poverty and family homelessness: 67% of females who emancipated from the child welfare system had at least one birth within five years of leaving care; and, emancipated females are four times more likely to receive public assistance than the general population; · Child abuse and neglect contributes to crime: Over 70% of all State Penitentiary inmates have spent time in the foster care system.** All of these scary statistics show that we have a serious problem as a society. What they don't show is the immediate impact that abuse and neglect have on the children. Children who have been abused or are living in crisis (orphaned, foster youth, homeless, etc.) often struggle with feeling that they have value, a future, or even hope. * http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics ** http://www.orangewoodfoundation.org/about_abuse.asp

Plan of Action

So, we are going to work to bring healing and inspiration to these children who struggle so much by bringing them positive messages that let them know that there are people out there who see that they have value, worth, and potential. We will raise awareness about abused and in crisis children by contacting community organizations to participate in card making events. The project will bring in both creativity and support of people and organizations of all ages and backgrounds to write and decorate a simple card with a message of healing, hope, and inspiration. The cards will then be made into a "quilt" that is laminated for durability. This card quilt may be the only time or one of the rare times that these children have been exposed to positive messages. We do our best to personalize the quilts as well so that the child will have something unique to own. In addition to the card quilts, we will be holding toy, school supply, and/or hygiene supply drives so that fun or useful items can go with these messages of healing and inspiration. We want to increase awareness about the struggle of these children in-crisis and show how it's possible to make a big difference in the life of a child just through the simple kind act of making a card and providing basic essentials.