Through fundraisers and donations, HARK provides financial support to children whose needs cannot be met utilizing other sources. Although some children are placed in licensed foster homes that receive a monthly stipend, many are placed in kinship placements (aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents) arriving with only the clothes on their backs. Kinship providers receive no financial support to meet the ongoing needs of these children. It is the goal of the HARK to normalize of lives of these children to the extent that we can by funding both basic needs and enrichment opportunities such as:
- Clothing and shoes
- Supplies for newborns including cribs, car seats, diapers, formula
- School supplies
- Swimming lessons
- Little League
- Gymnastic lessons
- Class trips
- Sporting Equipment and fees
- Day camps
- Overnight camp such the YMCA Camp Watia
In addition, the HARK will be able to bridge the gap created by the shortfall in government dollars to support the LINKS program for teens. In the past, 51 individual teens received checks because they met the goals set with their supervisors.
GAL volunteers are uniquely positioned to identify the specific needs of the children they represent and advocate on their behalf in court and the community. In order to utilize these funds, the Guardian ad Litem needs to fill out the Children’s Assistance Fund (CAF) Form. The guidelines for filling out the form can be found on the page 2 of the CAF form.
