Thompson Child and Family Focus: A #SpotlightOnCLT Foster Care Story
#SpotlightOnCLT Thompson - Strengthening children, families, and communities.
SHARE Charlotte’s #SpotlightOnCLT is a monthly content series, focusing on one cause, mission, or topic, helping to bring to light nonprofits, organizations, leaders, and volunteers that are doing great work in our Queen City. We’re highlighting nonprofits you may not know are your neighbor, and showing you easy ways to get involved.
SHARE Charlotte helps you give in ways that matter most to you.
This month’s #SpotlightOnCLT is all about foster care. SHARE Charlotte sat down with Thompson Child and Family Focus, a powerhouse family services center located in Matthews but whose programs impact Charlotteans, the city, state, and beyond in big ways. Among other services like client’s rights, early childhood, and mental health and residential services, Thompson provides a foster care program that is growing – fast.
We want to share their story with you, and help you engage with foster care children and families in surprising ways.
What is one thing Charlotteans need to know about Thompson and the landscape of foster care in the state of North Carolina?
“Children are coming into foster care in record numbers and often they are being moved to counties far away from the area they know and love. Thompson’s foster care program has grown as we address this demand. We have gone from about 27 homes to over 300 homes in the past 7 years alone covering not only the Charlotte Metro area but we have homes located in and around Gastonia, Asheville, Willmington, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. Thompson’s goal is to reunify families.”
Thompson has several volunteer experiences that people can sign up for. What is one volunteer experience needed, now?
“Goody bags for the children or volunteering your time to interact with the children to do a fun outdoor activity day, a parents day out, or even a festival of some sort.”
Volunteer Opportunity: Foster Care Volunteer. Donate items to help welcome foster children into their new home.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities like Child Development Center Volunteers, Friends of the Children, Residential Cottage Volunteer, and more can be found here.
Could you tell us more about Tiger Town? We hear it's a type of "store" and that you can donate or volunteer there. We'd love to know more!
“Tiger Town is essentially a store that our staff can go into and pick out items for the children in our facilities to use. Items can include anything from new clothes, jackets and shoes, to art supplies, sporting goods or toys and games.”
Volunteer Opportunity: Tigertown Takeover. A “Tiger Town Takeover” can look like this…A group of volunteers (10-20 people) will:
- STOCK- We send you a current list of needs. Your group gathers donations and brings them to our campus.
- ORGANIZE - Your group organizes your donations AND what might already be in the store. This may include labeling, color-coordinating, arranging clothing and shoe sizes, re-arranging items, etc.
- CLEAN - Your group helps with sweeping, dusting, collecting trash, etc.
Let’s talk about Foster Child Parenting. Why should someone become a foster parent?
“You are giving a child who may have experienced trauma to find stability in a home setting.” It takes a village, children deserve a home, and you may already know how and have what it takes to be a foster parent. Learn more here: Thompson Foster Care.
Don’t let us tell you why…hear from foster parents themselves about how foster parenting has brought joy to their lives:
Thank you to Thompson for not only sponsoring this month’s Foster Care #SpotlightOnCLT and helping to shine a light on foster care in Charlotte, but also for doing the incredible work, providing the support, and deeply caring about what it takes to change the lives of children and families.
Want to get involved in an even bigger way? Thompson is expanding their team and they are looking for passionate people in opportunities like Foster Care Licensing & Training Specialist, Education Supervisor (Residential), Therapist, Accounting Clerk, Quality Improvement Specialist. Learn more and apply here.