Both the State and County DFCS offices recruit volunteers in implementing its programs for children and families. Volunteers provide valuable services to families and children in their communities and they, too, can be of great support in helping you enrich the lives of the children placed in your care. Some examples of how volunteers may help foster parents in caring for a child are:

• Relieving foster parents by staying with the child one afternoon a week; 
• Driving you and the child to the child’s health care appointments. 
• Tutoring the child in accordance with the child’s needs. 
• Assuming the cost of fees related to recreational and other activities. 
• Sharing an evening or weekend with the child for recreation. 
• Donating computers and other equipment to enhance the child’s learning.

Foster parents may be aware of an individual or organization that has an interest in sharing their time, talents or resources with a child. If this should be the case, there are several pointers to keep in mind:

• Contact the child’s case manager when you feel a volunteer can help with a child. 
• Do not allow a volunteer to take the child away from your home without the permission of the agency. DFCS is required to obtain clearance (a Criminal Record and CPS Check) on any volunteers who come in direct contact with children in placement. 
• Do not discuss personal information regarding the child’s case. 
• For school-aged children, get their input as to their thoughts and feelings about interacting with a volunteer person or group.

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