HOW TO HELP

How Can You Help a Child in Foster Care Right Now?

It is our obligation as Muslims to join hands as a community and support the children who have experienced abuse, neglect and/or other family challenges. We are liable to stand strong in our commitment to these children, regardless of their social, economic, ethnic, or racial backgrounds. There are several ways to help the children in the Foster Care System:

Become a Foster Parent

The most direct and impactful way to address foster care needs is to become a foster caregiver.

*Meet Muslim Foster Parents

Sign Up to be a FATE Volunteer

FATE is a program of ICNA Relief and committed to serving children in need. We strive to create a wholesome family that feels at home with its members. We are always ready to increase our family size by accepting new helping hands.

Different ways to volunteer include Marketing; Event planning; Event setup/clean up; Managing cases; Fund collection; Record maintenance; Operations management; Listening ear for the families in need; Counselling; Resource allocation; Maintaining contact with families no longer in system; and much more. Please follow the link to Becoming a Volunteer, and sign up.

Provide Respite Care

Respite care gives foster parents temporary relief from caregiving, allowing them to recharge and to refocus their energies. they may need to have someone else take over their fostering responsibilities.. Providing respite care requires training and licensing. When foster parents need Respite care allows for the foster children to be placed with another licensed caregiver for a short period of time. Laws vary state-to-state, but this may require a background check or special certification from the foster family’s licensing agency.

Educate and Advocate

A vital part of our volunteer base is word-of- mouth. A great way to help a child in foster care is to learn more about the foster care process and to keep informed on challenges vulnerable families are facing in your community We encourage everyone to learn about FATE, and then help educate the community by spreading the word in your circles. This will increase awareness, and therefore, increase our ICNA Relief-FATE family.

Train to be a CASA Volunteer

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a national organization who stand up on behalf of abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers are appointed by the court to be the voice of the foster child. They are required to observe and engage the foster child in their new environment and report their findings to the judge. In this way, a well-informed and unbiased decision, which is in the best interest of the child, can be made. They also make suggestions about the child’s placement and services they need. They are required to monitor the child’s situation until the case is released by the court, while collaborating with other organizations to ensure the necessary services are provided.

Meet Muslim CASA Volunteers

Fundraise or Donate

FATE is a non-profit organization working under the umbrella of ICNA Relief. A donation in any amount can make an immediate impact. Every dollar you can give will makes a difference to the families and youth currently facing unforeseen circumstances. Please visit our secure donation page here.

Masjid and Community Centers

ICNA Relief recognized the tremendous need for Muslim foster parents in US and decided to initiate this program. With no licensed Muslim foster homes in the community, any Muslim child entering the foster care system would be placed with families of any faith or cultural background. It was

paramount to develop our expertise in the foster care system and promote Muslim foster care representation of ethnic minority as well as providing support to non-Muslim foster families who care for Muslim children.

Letter for Khutba

Reach out to your local masjid or community center to request for a khutba/sermon to be delivered.