With over 2,600 foster youth in Orange County alone, assisting the children who are in need of a helping hand has never been more crucial. These children, born into a life deemed difficult among anyone's standards, must now endure the struggles of our current pandemic era. Their foster families, responsible for gifting their time and emotional support, must also financially provide and for many, the government mandated $657-$820/month is simply not enough to purchase the pandemic living essentials that are needed. Masks, mandated in most counties in California including Orange County, are the new everyday essential.
In addition to the aiding of foster youth and their families, we believe it is also extremely vital to provide masks to the social workers of which dedicate their time to helping foster youth cope with their ever-changing life. In making this sacrifice, social workers are in constant contact with the general public which thus greatly exposes them to the virus. Their role in foster youth's lives is unquestioned; however, upon the advent of COVID-19, their ability to conduct regulatory in-person checks has critically diminished due to social distancing protocols. Thus, the donation of masks will be the first step in allowing them to return to their critical wellness checks and will let them do so without the burden of paying out of their own pocket; a small gift for their sacrifice.
In addition to the aiding of foster youth and their families, we believe it is also extremely vital to provide masks to the social workers of which dedicate their time to helping foster youth cope with their ever-changing life. In making this sacrifice, social workers are in constant contact with the general public which thus greatly exposes them to the virus. Their role in foster youth's lives is unquestioned; however, upon the advent of COVID-19, their ability to conduct regulatory in-person checks has critically diminished due to social distancing protocols. Thus, the donation of masks will be the first step in allowing them to return to their critical wellness checks and will let them do so without the burden of paying out of their own pocket; a small gift for their sacrifice.