8. Respite Care for Foster Parents

Who does it:
Congregation B'nai Israel in Elmira, NY

What they do:
Provide a day of activities for foster care children, allowing parents time off to catch up, rest, and renew themselves.

Time commitment:
A 6-to-8 hour day every other month.

Who they do it for and why:
The temple and two partner churches provide a day of activities for foster care children, allowing parents time off to catch up, rest, and renew themselves. The programs have also been highly educational, entertaining and nurturing for the children-a second mitzvah! The program also serves to increase awareness of the foster care program, its needs and role. Approximately every other month, a day of activities is provided for 30-60 children. The ages of attendees have ranged from pre-kindergarten through 10th grade. The program has taken the children on trips including an excursion to a science museum in a neighboring city; provided days centered on arts and music, and presented days of cross-cultural experiences, including the last program which "flew" the children to Japan, Zaire, and Israel, where they experienced the foods, sights, music, language and cultural activities of each country. Each of the three participating congregations takes turns "hosting" a day. Hosting involves the preliminary planning (final plans are ironed out together) and providing the facility. Each host provides a home-cooked meal and at least one snack. Funding for the program is covered by the Department of Social Services of the county, minus those provisions donated by congregations and vendors.

We would need:
¨ Someone to determine if such a service is presently provided in the Tulsa area. If so, does that organization need volunteers?
¨ If no such service presently exists, someone would need to determine how many foster families - both in the Jewish community and in the community at large - would benefit from such a service. That information is probably available from social service agencies.
¨ One or more persons willing to assume leadership of the project, then plan and manage it.
¨ Other congregations willing to partner with us for this project.
¨ A pool of volunteers willing to undergo appropriate training, then to commit to participating in the program on a scheduled basis.

If you are interested in organizing or participating in such a program, contact:
Jeanne Jacobs (phone: 747-1309, email timvp@templeisraeltulsa