The goal of the Little Wishes program is to help children in foster care have a childhood. Little Wishes raises donations from the public to fund opportunities that help kids grow and thrive. For example, a week at summer camp enables a girl to be just one of the kids and not labeled as a foster child. When wishes like these are granted, kids begin to realize what it's really like to be a kid. They get to discover who they are, what they are capable of and what it means to be happy. For more information please contact Barbara Kane.
To make a referral:
- Download the referral form.
- Return to:
Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition
Attn: Little Wishes
1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210
Saint Louis, MO 63144
OR barbarakane@foster-adopt.org
OR fax to 314.241.0715
Criteria - A Little Wish must:
- Help the child develop or enhance a skill (Ex. Dance lessons, art lessons, bicycle, or basketball hoop)
- Help the child sustain the bond between biological siblings living in separate foster homes (Ex. Sibling visit to Chuck E. Cheeses or Dave and Busters)
- Provide the child with the opportunity to attend a St. Louis attraction or event, ora camp or trip (Ex. Cardinals game, summer camp, or senior trip)
- Allow the child to gather with family and friends to celebrate a special day (Ex. Special birthday party, prom expenses, or graduation fees)
- Help cultivate the child’s sense of belonging in his/her foster home (Ex. Room makeover)
- Dollar limit $200 out of pocket per wish. (Referring source should use discretion on any wishes that may exceed this amount. Referring source should not share dollar amount with child
Additional Criteria
- Child must be currently in foster care
- One wish per year per child
- Foster family/case workers/adoption recruiter/CASA/GAL responsible foridentifying and securing transportation necessary for fulfillment of wish.
- Area limited to greater metro St. Louis area. Travel outside this area off limits.
- Camps determined on case-by-case basis
- Time frame for wishes should be reasonable and finite (8 weeks of classes, not one year).
- No gun training, paint ball lessons, fencing, shooting or weaponry of any kind
- No clothing wishes fulfilled unless supported by experience or self-esteem context
Protocol for change of wish: Any time a wish needs to be changed, a new application nulls and voids the previous one. Referring source can withdraw a wish at any time.
Wish fulfillment is first-come, first-served and Little Wishes will make every attempt to fulfill them in a timely manner. Some wishes may be fulfilled first if there is a seasonal deadline (for example: Rams games, Six Flags visit, etc.).