The first year-round program designed just for RFKC Campers Ages 7-12

James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:to look after orphans... in their distress“

The Need 3 million reports of abuse or neglect 510,000 children in foster care Re-abuse in foster care Foster Care Drift “highest risk” for emotional, social, academic and physical problems

Foster Care Outcomes 45% of kids leaving foster care homeless within the year 4 years after ‘emancipation’ 60% of the young women had given birth 40% had been on public assistance or in jail

Impact of Mentoring Mentored children demonstrated Healthier behaviors Better relationships increased likelihood of going to college

The Opportunity Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics reported: Foster children who had adult friends achieved better health, higher self-esteem and more academic success; in addition, they were less at risk for suicidal thoughts and aggression.

The GAP National mentoring programs are not designed for foster children; to date, foster child mentoring programs are LOCAL Placement moves mean that foster children are less likely to get chosen or to stay in mentoring programs;

OUR CAPACITY 7,000+ Trained Volunteers 38 States

TARGET AUDIENCE OUR CAMPERS— AGE 7-12

Mentoring Foster Kids Sept. – May 5-day Residential Summer Camps ChurchSocial Services Kids Volunteers & $ ’ s

CAMPS CLUBS 1-TO-1 3 LEVELS OF MENTORING

Mentoring makes sense… But why have mentoring CLUBS for pre-teen foster kids?

RESEARCH ON AT RISK KIDS SHOWS THAT CLUBS HELP Clubs have a long term track record of improving at risk kids’ outcomes; Group activities are often more effective in working with abuse survivors

CLUBS & THE ROYAL FAMILY KIDS’ CAMPS EXPERIENCE Healing = More than the counselor. GROUP experience CAMP CULTURE of treating people ‘royally’

COMMITMENT A personal relationship demonstrates it— A public community celebrates it

Revolving Door of Foster Care Most infants in foster care: Move every months Have 3 homes by age 4 Older children move even more

AFFIRMING COMMITMENT IN COMMUNITY Caping Ceremony – A Promise MADE

SYMBOLISM OF THE SEAL – A SOLEMN PLEDGE TO BE TRUE TO ONE’S WORD

Caping Ceremony – When the first club kid was caped, it brought a tear to my eye. There was a palpable feeling of expectation

Celebrating A Promise Kept Closing Ceremony: RFC Pendant

TIMELINE: September – May MENTORS 4 hours a month with matched club kid Attend monthly club meeting CLUB STAFF (COACHES) Monthly Club Meetings/Group events

LEADERSHIP TEAM MENTORING DIRECTOR: CLUB COORDINATOR CLUB COUNSELOR

Corona, CA Geneseo, IL La Mesa, CA Bremerton, WA PILOT = 7 CLUBS 100+ KIDS! Cuyahoga Falls, OH Sandy, UT Tyler, TX

2009 TRAINING INSTITUTES March 5-7, 2009 April 24-25, 2009