Funding your kids needs
When your assigned child has unmet needs, you can make a request for funding or items though the Friends of Children website: www.
Children’s Needs and/or Normalcy Request Program
The state provides for the daily needs of children in the dependency system. However, children in the child welfare system deserve to be treated like any other child and should also be able to participate in normal, age-appropriate activities. If your assigned child has unmet needs or is missing out on a normal childhood experience, please request funding though the Friends of Children website: www.
Funding requests can be located on Friends website under RESOURCES.
Guidelines:
Requests may be made when financial hardship is created for the caregiver in providing for the child’s need. All requests should support a child’s needs or provide for a normalcy experience. Friends of Children’s mission limits our support to children in the Guardian ad Litem program in Brevard Counties. Please do not submit the request for children living in the home that are not in the Guardian ad Litem program.
Our preferred method of funding requests is to purchase the item and have item shipped directly to the child’s address or have it available for pick up at closest store. We have accounts at Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon and other retail companies. If your request is for a registration or payment, Friends of Children can make a payment directly to the organization either by check or online payment. Please include links for online ordering or payment information in your request. For requests that cannot be ordered online, a check will be mailed to the Guardian ad Litem listed on the form. Checks are not sent to caregivers. You will be responsible for the money being spent in the appropriate manner and will be required to submit receipts and a reporting form within 30 days of funding. Funds may only be used for the purpose intended and unused funds must be returned within 30 days of funding. All items provided to your children by Friends of Children of Brevard are the propriety of the child and these items should move with the children if they change placements.
What you can request:
Friends funds clothing, beds, bikes, computers, diapers, school supplies, luggage, holiday gifts, duffle bags and other items not provided by government agencies. What Friends does not typically fund: gaming platforms, computer games, cell phones, on-going expenses such as monthly cell phone bills, electric bills, rent.
- Urgent Request: We understand that many of these children have very few of their own personal possessions and many leave with just the clothing on their backs. No child should be without their basic needs such as clothing and shoes.
- Normalcy and Guardian Bonding: Funds may be requested for bonding activities with your child. Please consider submitting normalcy requests that are non-recurring. For example, football for a semester at school, spring break camp, soccer program for 8 weeks.
- Beds: Foster families are required to have beds for all children in their care. We will support requests for non-relative caregivers, relative caregivers, and children aging out of the system.
- Driver’s Ed, Licenses, Insurance: House Bill 977 created a three-year pilot program at the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to pay the cost of driver education, licensure, and motor vehicle insurance for young adults in foster care so they can have the same opportunity as children who are not in foster care. The Keys to Independence website includes an application form and all other details. Please contact your Case Manager or Child Advocacy Manager for assistance with these requests.
- Bus Passes: These will be considered on a case-by-case basis for teens that have educational needs or need a means to get to and from work.
- Recurring Costs: Typically, Friends of Children does not support recurring costs. If your request includes a recurring cost, please contact us before submitting the form.
- Phones: Although we understand phones are a normalcy need for our teens, we do not provide funds for phones or phone cards at this time. Many of our youth use old phones or ipod touches that are Wi-Fi capable and apps such as messenger and others can at least be utilized when they are in a location with Wi-Fi access. If there is a need that you believe should be considered, please contact us before submitting the form for prior approval.
- Computer Games: Friends of Children does not typically fund: gaming platforms or computer games.
- Birthdays/Holidays: Requests can be submitted for celebratory or bonding purposes. The Friends of Children’s Needs Committee will review all requests for appropriateness, need, and available budget. Friends of Children hosts a holiday gift drive yearly fulfilling children’s wish lists. Look for the signup sheet for holiday gifts in October.
Questions? Contact your CAM for more information or send us an email: mail@