News Recap of Foster Care

The links below represent news we thought would be good to share. The news covers foster care, child abuse and neglect, adoption and former foster youth in the United States and abroad.

Community Suppports Foster Youth Services

Covenant Community Services, Inc. (Covenant), is a nonprofit 501(c)3 based in Bakersfield, California. The mission of Covenant is “providing hope and love

David Dobbs of Imbibe Wines presents a donation to Randy Martin, Covenant CEO

to abused and neglected children”. Covenant accomplishes mission through partnerships with the local community including those from the faith, corporate and private sector.

Recently, Covenant has received funding from Imbibe Wines, Bakersfield, California’s premier wine source. David Dobbs, owner of Imbibe Wines, held a benefit tasting to support the efforts of Covenant in providing vocational skills training and mentoring to former foster youth. In addition to the generous donation of over $3,500.00, Dobbs sells the coffee roasted by Covenant in their store. According to Dobbs, it is a natural partnership that provides his customers with a high quality product that has a great story … helping former foster youth find success.

Imbibe is one of many local corporations that are selling Covenant Coffee due to the high quality and social impact. Covenant Coffee was created in 2008 to train, mentor and employ former foster youth. Each time Covenant sells two pounds of Covenant Coffee it provides employment for a former foster youth for one hour! The youth at Covenant Coffee learn valuable skills in customer service, sales, packaging, food service and basic employment domains.

Covenant is very thankful for companies like Imbibe that allow their corporate conscience to have an impact on a marginalized population of our community. Randy Martin, CEO of Covenant, states that “without people like David Dobbs and companies like Imbibe our mission will be incomplete. It is through community partnerships and buy-in that youth are encouraged and we can actually provide a job and hope.”

To find out more about Covenant Coffee go to www.covenantcoffee.org

 

Foster care news and notes

This is an online news summary of articles related to foster care, child abuse and neglect and former foster youth. The articles are compiled by the team at Covenant and posted for your use, education and awareness.

Soothe your soul and taste buds – This is a review of Covenant Coffee by Bakersfield Californian food critic Pete Tittl - thanks Pete for the kind words and great recommendation! To read the article click here.

Unfair – What about older foster youth and their families? – Huffington Post – To read the article click here. The national database on foster care statistics, AFCARS, reports that many youth are eligible for adoption but not included in the statistics. If youth have no permanent and safe connection upon emancipation their life outcomes turn bad quickly.

State’s Ready by 21 prepares foster youth for life - Program helps kids who age out of foster care. The efforts include mentoring and life skills training. “Many agencies are working to give kids concrete skills, but all the skills in the world do not matter as much as having another human being who cares for you,” she said. “A significant adult in the life of each child will make the program succeed.” - go the article by clicking here.

Foster Care shortage in Texas leads to children sleeping in the Child Protective Services offices – When there are no families to serve and love abused and neglected children the State must turn to drastic measures. We need people to rise to the challenge and provide loving and compassionate homes. To read the article click here.

Fresno foster mother charged in child’s death- “While no one is blaming county social workers for not doing more to curtail the abuse, Mikayla’s ensuing death and the events preceding it are posing questions for a foster-care system that has seen problems in the past.” To read the article click here.

Rookie wideout Tyms runs toward future - This is an incredible story of a NFL player that came out of the foster care system and found a family through sport. To read the article go here.

To learn more about Covenant go to www.covenantcs.net – you can also stop by our Coffee House and share some time with our great youth staff and have an amazing cup of freshly roasted coffee. For more about our coffee project visit www.covenantcoffee.org

 

 

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