WHO supports Friends of the Williamson County Child Welfare Board
Anne Marshall
The efforts of Women Helping Others were directed toward the Friends of the Williamson County Child Welfare Board in September. WHO members learned about the Friends group and made a donation to the cause.
Friends of the Williamson County Child Welfare Board is an nonprofit organization devoted to helping supply the needs of Williamson County children in foster care and their families, as well as the workers who support them. As a supporter of the Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards, the group’s ultimate goal is to stop child abuse and protect Texas children.
There are approximately 215 Williamson County children involved in the foster care system. In conjunction with the Williamson County Commissioners Court, the Child Welfare Board works to ensure children’s basic needs are met through regular clothing allowances, medical and therapeutic interventions, and other resources that would not otherwise be available to them.
Through generous donations, The Friends of the Williamson County Child Welfare Board are able to go beyond basic needs and provide children in foster care items not covered by the state or county. This year, they have been able to send several children to summer camps, provide graduation items such as caps and gowns, award college scholarships and provide ongoing support to young people in college by providing a monthly allowance.
The board strives to support those who care for children in foster care. Support is provided to both family members caring for their relative children as well as citizens who open up their home to a foster child. Additionally, they help relative caregivers working to become licensed foster or adoptive parents.
These workers are on the front lines — they are the first line of defense for the children in need. The organization helps fund additional training for workers to attend specialized workshops and conferences.
A Rainbow Room is an emergency resource center available to Child Protective Services caseworkers to help them meet the critical needs of the children. It consists of a store-like setting that allows CPS workers to go “shopping” for the children and families on their caseloads.
The room is stocked with new items such as clothing, shoes, toys and games, diapers, formula, school supplies, backpacks, hygiene products and cleaning products. Every item in the Rainbow Room is donated or purchased from donations. They have an Amazon wish list can be found here: https://a.co/ii7R4Ta Community outreach for the program includes educating the community on the needs of children and child welfare policies, programs and needs. They encourage community and individual involvement in child welfare. They work with CPS workers to identify gaps in children’s services and find the resources to fill them, monitor services to children in the community, stimulate reporting of child abuse and neglect and work for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Children in foster care should have the same opportunities and support as other children.
Anne Marshall is a member of Woman Helping Others, a Georgetown- based club that works to help area nonprofit organizations. Each month, the group meets to assist and spotlight the efforts of a local nonprofit.