Community Citizenship

Families Like Ours is a volunteer network of pre and post adoptive, foster families and professionals that have joined together to reach our mission of supporting pre and post adoptive youth and families. The foundation of Families Like Ours is based upon families helping families. Families Like Ours encourages Corporate Community Citizenship. We are always seeking volunteers from Microsoft, Real Network, Amazon, Starbucks, Boeing, Costco, Comcast, to name just a few. 

We are here because of you! It only takes as little as an hour a month ….
 
Areas that we are always in need of help included . . . (check out our Volunteer Alerts)
 
1 Hour a month –
 

Families Like Ours conducts 10 P.R.I.D.E. trainings a year for pre adoptive, foster and respite providers as required for Washington State. At each of these trainings we like to bring in a panel of 3 – 5 adoptive, foster, relative adults, adult former foster youth to talk about their individual experience. The panels are between 1 to 1 ½ hours just 10 times a year. If you’d like to volunteer to become a panel member, please contact FLO.

  • Social Media Outreach

Are you a social media person? FLO is always looking for help with our social media programs, i.e. FaceBook, online web forums, Twitter, etc. If you have just an hour a month that you’d like to help with our online community outreach just let us know.

  • Heart Gallery
Families Like Ours has teamed up with Heart Gallery programs to setup, and distribute photos of children needing forever families throughout the Puget Sound community. We need a select group of volunteers that can commit one to five hours a month to help with community outreach, and move the photos to each new venue.

 

2 – 4 Hours a month –
 
  • Social Media Outreach
Help! FLO needs a few social media junkies that can keep the FLO FaceBook, Twitter, online Forums and more updated throughout the month, week, and daily if possible. If you have a few hours a month, week or day that you can help spread the word drop us an email and let us know.
 
  • Quarterly family picnic and events
Here is your chance to shine! Each quarter FLO tried to coordinate fun family networking events. These events can be BBQ’s, a day at the Zoo, picnic at the beach, even day hikes. The sky is the limit; you choose what you want to coordinate. The goal is to have a fun event where families can meet each other, exchange resources, share respite and let the kids have a good time. FLO needs a few helpful volunteers that can commit to one or more quarterly events. If this is you, drop us an email.
 
  • Writing and editing
Here is your chance to get your name in the headlines! FLO is always looking for content developers, and editors. We’re currently undergoing some major systems upgrades which will allow us to add even more content. Become a FLO BLOGGER, create some resource content, help setup our resource link area. You have the idea; we have the tools to make it happen! Just a couple of hours a month can make all the difference!
 
  • Family Support Group
So here is something fun and easy. FLO hosts family support work-groups, some of these groups (like our waiting family group) meet each month for about an hour and half, others meet every other month. They are fun, engaging and design to help support other pre and post adoptive and foster families. If you’re interested in becoming a Lead Group Mentor, drop us an email and let us know. Just a few hours a month can make a world of difference to another family.

 

Other FLO volunteer opportunities ….
 
Respite Providers: Families Like Ours maintains a volunteer list of licensed pre and post adoptive and foster families able to provide respite to other families on a peer-to-peer model. We are always in need of more families that can share respite for a few hours, over night, weekend or longer. In addition we host quarterly respite events and need 2 – 3 volunteers at these 5 hour events. Geographic location – Puget Sound (Seattle and surrounding communities).
 
Adoption Buddies: Adoption Buddies are post adoptive and foster families able to mentor other pre and post adoptive and foster families. Families Like Ours is in need of 10 - 15 new volunteer team members to this important aspect of what we provide to families, and professionals. Each Adoption Buddy volunteer is provided full training by Families Like Ours. Geographic location - national
 
Co-Trainers: Families Like Ours conducts nearly 500 hours of parent and professional training each year. Starting in September 2010, we are seeking 4 volunteer co-trainers to help facilitate parent groups, co-train our very popular P.R.I.D.E. Training for pre and post adoptive and foster families. You do not need experience as a trainer, however it would be helpful. You do however need experience as an adoptive or foster parent. Co-trainers work side by side one of our trainers. Geographic location – Puget Sound (Seattle and surrounding communities).
 
Community Workgroups
  • Quarterly Events: We are in need of a small quarterly events workgroup members to help coordinate, develop and promote quarterly family networking and respite events for pre and post adoptive and foster families.
  • Fund-raising and annual event committees: Families Like Ours primarily rely upon direct donations to fund our programs for families and kids. Each year we host an annual dinner, along with house parties, mid year events and fund-raising campaigns. We are in need of 5 – 10 community leaders, families and supporters to help keep Families Like Ours funded
Community, office and event volunteers are always needed throughout the year. If you have an idea that you would like to run by us, just let us know. We're always looking for new ways to work within our communities to help families and find homes for children in need.
 
Please contact us by email or just give us call if you'd like to give back. Thank you!