Thank you for your interest in helping Connecticut’s foster children. Thousands of children across the state are waiting for a mentor, for a foster family, for an adoptive family—or simply for someone who is willing to be on their side. Let these children see that they matter to you. However you choose to express your kindness and compassion to these children, you will make a difference.
Helping Connecticut's Foster Children
Become a Foster Parent
Would you be willing to open your heart and home to a child in need? Join the group of committed and satisfied CT foster parents who regularly encourage and assist one another and who enjoy the support of caring and committed foster care professionals. Become a foster parent. It doesn’t matter whether you are old or young, single or married, straight or gay, work full time, or have children of your own. Adults who are able to commit time and energy to a child or sibling group are needed.
Become an Adoptive Parent
Are you ready to start or expand your family? We are seeking couples and individuals willing and able to provide permanent, loving homes for Connecticut’s waiting children.
Provide Respite Care
Get licensed to provide respite care to other foster families. Help take care of children on a temporary basis, ranging from 24 hours to 14 days.
Provide a Job
Many youth in the foster care system have a difficult time finding employment. You could help by giving a youth his or her first work experience.
Become a Guardian Ad Litem
Guardian Ad Litems are volunteers who advocate in juvenile court for abused and neglected children, making sure each child’s best interests remain the priority throughout the court process.
Volunteer at a Children’s Home
For many children, a group home is the first stop on the foster care journey, or it might be a stop along the way between foster homes. Children’s homes are often looking for volunteers to handle a variety of tasks.
Donate items to a children’s home, foster care agency, or through an agency like Covenant to Care or Acts IV.
Many of these organizations need school supplies, shoes, clothes, and even toys. Suitcases or bags of any kind are also welcome. Some places prefer new items while others accept gently used, so please call ahead for details.
Adopt a Social Worker Through our Partner, Covenant to Care
The Adopt a Social Worker program matches individual religious congregations of any faith tradition with a DCF child protective services social worker. This supports the worker by meeting unmet needs of abused, neglected, and severely impoverished
Become a Mentor
These children are in need of adult volunteers willing to share their experiences,
expertise, and time in order to encourage and support a child’s goals. Mentoring can be a powerful experience for both mentor and mentoree. By spending time together and forging a relationship, two individuals have a unique opportunity to blossom in ways neither may have imagined before.