Did you know?
80% of prison inmates are former foster children.
60-80% of those involved in human trafficking are currently or were once part of the foster care system.
The lack of family support and connection experienced by foster children plays a significant role in preventing a healthy transition to adulthood, and worse. Waymark was founded to defy these statistics. They offer positive experiences and personal connections through structured camp and mentoring activities. The faith-based team at Waymark works to make children and teens who have experienced foster care feel safe and nurtured through activities with trusted and consistent volunteers.
“Foster kids need community. They have been pulled out of their home and displaced from their family unit, so they don’t have that sense of family around them.…. Waymark, through the camp or the mentoring program, is creating that sense of community for them where they feel like they have a family. Even if they are in a different foster home than last year, we get to see them again and greet them by name… and they feel like they have a place where they belong” – Waymark Dean of Women, Tori Tippens
Some of the important programs established for various age groups are week-long and weekend camping trips, Saturday skills-training sessions, 1:1 and group mentoring programs, holiday celebrations and more. Volunteers have shared their appreciation for the opportunity to impact the lives of kids who have the odds stacked against them.
With the desire to be good stewards of their donations, a new Waymark Foster Fund was established at Cobb Community Foundation for the professional investment management and added layer of oversight. Executive Director, Tasha Whitener, also shared her appreciation of the additional exposure available to Waymark by potential donors through CCF activities. To support the work that Waymark is doing with children in the foster care system, you may make a donation here.
