Fostering Futures NY Coordinator, Cathy Albrecht, is looking for volunteers who have an interest in supporting and assisting foster families in the area. (Photo by Catherine Sasso)

CHENANGO COUNTY – Fostering Futures NY is looking for volunteers who can give one day a month to helping families with foster children.

Fostering Futures NY is a state funded program coordinated through Improve Norwich Now. The premise of the program is to connect foster families with a group of volunteers that can provide support and assist them in everyday tasks.

According to the program's Chenango County Coordinator, Cathy Albrecht, Improve Norwich Now was contacted by Chenango County to be the facilitator for the Fostering Futures NY program.

“(The Department of Social Services) saw us as an awesome organization that they wanted, and they knew that we could handle this,” said Albrecht.

Families are referred to the program through the Department of Social Services. Albrecht said there are about 18 families currently waiting to be connected with a Fostering Futures volunteer group.

Volunteer groups consist of five individuals from the area. Albrecht said that all five people can come from the same group, such as from a church or a group of friends, or five individual volunteers.

“The great thing about having a mix is you get people from all walks of life,” said Albrecht.

Volunteers have to go through two background checks, one through the state and then one through a private company. They are then provided a two and half hour training where they learn the basics of the child welfare system, confidentiality, and the reporting of abuse or maltreatment.

Volunteers are asked to attend one monthly team meeting with the program coordinator, as well as having a minimum of one interaction a month with the assigned foster family.

Albrecht said volunteers typically do things like meal support, after school help, homework help, and small projects around the home.

“This could be as simple as bringing them a prepared dinner one night. We have a volunteer couple who is helping a family with a lot of kids make valentines for school,” said Albrecht.

She also said that D.S.S. is looking at foster families that support sibling groups, children with severe medical conditions, and children with behavioral or mental health issues as top priority for the Foster Futures program.

“The challenges of being a foster parent are isolation, frustration, difficulty in the situation they're in. There's nothing in foster care that foster parents are in control of. That's anywhere from the court system, to family members, to education, to dealing with any of those entities. In this program they're in control,” said Albrecht.

According to the programs guidelines it is designed to reduce burnout and increase retention of dedicated foster parents. Foster parents that qualify for the program have had at least one year of being a licensed care giver and are considered strong functioning families.

Albrecht said that volunteers don't need any special qualifications, just a positive attitude and a drive to want to help.

“No matter what stage in your life you are in, no matter what qualification you have, no matter what you've been through, you can help a family,” said Albrecht.

If you would like to volunteer for Fostering Futures NY and help a local foster family, contact Cathy Albrecht at 607-238-3392 or send her an email at improvenorwichnow@gmail.com.