WCFC Annual Report

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

“If every single one of us helped just one child, imagine what the impact would be.”

- Hon. Kelly Ann Ramsey

T ABLE OF

A LETTER FROM OUR

We Care Foster Care’s 2022 was a year full of impact, growth, and learning.

We delivered over 800 hours of direct teaching and learning to foster youth in need with programs targeting both literacy and the social, emotional, and academic skills these children lack.

We also provided direct services and goods to over 250 families, including beds, school supplies, healthy meals, winter clothes, holiday gifts, and so much more.

While we are proud of our accomplishments, there is still so much more to do. That is why we launched our new We Care LifeCare program, which supports aging-out youth by building a network of caring adults and organizations who provide goods, services, and resources to help them thrive in their everyday lives. We will continue to build on this in 2023.

I am sincerely grateful to our dedicated and hardworking board of directors, staff, program partners, teaching artists, volunteers, and Monthly Heroes. And we could not have done any of this without the care and support of our incredible financial partners. We truly appreciate every single one of them. Their willingness to care has made a significant impact on the lives of those we serve.

We Care,

Alexis Ramsey Executive Director

WHY

Michigan has approximately 10,000 children and young adults in foster care. Disproportionate numbers suffer from a grim parade of mental health issues and poor educational outcomes, a burden Michigan’s safety net fails to fully address.

Foster children face the following challenges:

Behavior problems, often rooted in placement-related trauma, keep foster children from focusing on school;

Teachers and other adults in the lives of foster children usually focus on the child’s behavioral issues, not their educational needs;

Foster children, who attend an average of 6 different schools in their K-12 experience, lose 4-6 months of academic progress every time they change schools;

Foster children generally blame themselves, not foster care or schools, for their poor academic achievement.

In some cases, foster families do not have the financial means to provide a healthy and safe home environment, lacking clean beds, bedding, and safety accommodations for children. There is often no extra income available in these home placements to provide needed dental or counseling services, nor is there money to experience arts and cultural activities.

It takes a village, as the saying goes. Addressing these complicated educational, financial, and social issues involves many agencies across numerous jurisdictions: public, private, local, state, and federal. As such, We Care serves Wayne County’s foster children by coordinating with various agencies, non-profits, businesses, and area professionals to mobilize and target available resources to where they will be most effective.

KEY

CARE

To provide needed goods, services, and educational programs to Wayne County foster care children and families.

COLLABORATE

To foster community relationships and build an extensive network of organizations, businesses, and individuals willing to provide programs, goods, and services to children in foster/family placements.

CREATE

To develop and provide arts-infused educational programs focused on Math, Science, and English language arts, enabling young people to benefit cognitively, academically, creatively, and emotionally through the arts.

CONNECT

To establish opportunities for ongoing relationships with foster youth/families, to provide the strongest impact on their lives, best manifested over time.

A LETTER FROM OUR

Dear Friends,

Three years ago, the organization known as For The Seventh Generation implemented several significant shifts to the trajectory of our work. We changed our name to We Care Foster Care. We hired a new executive director and adopted a strategic plan that envisioned expansion, growth, and impact for the foster care community by changing many of our existing administrative and programmatic operations. I am proud to say today that under the leadership of Executive Director Alexis Ramsey and through the hard work and dedication of our Board, our partners, and our community, we have brought much of that vision to reality.

I am proud to report the following:

Our administration has been streamlined and improved, which is now capable of handling our more comprehensive mission and expansive services;

We have identified and recruited community leadership with vision and commitment by contributing their time, talent, and treasure to helping children and families;

We have increased our development activities, resulting in a projected 150% increase in our annual revenue;

We have developed a strong foundation of partnership with foster care community providers and look to expand those relationships in the coming year;

We have become a voice for needed change in both policies and programs impacting foster care in our community;

We have created and implemented cutting edge educational programs that have improved the academic and social success of foster youth;

And we provided foster children with goods and services that allow them to safely thrive in their everyday life.

The issues and challenges that exist in the foster care community are complex and comprehensive. They will not be resolved quickly. But We Care Foster Care is determined to tackle these challenges one child, one family at a time. Our progress on these difficult issues has been made possible, in large part, by the powerful partnerships we are forging. We have joined forces with our generous donors and other nonprofits to magnify our collective impact on foster care initiatives. To these valued partners we express our profound gratitude. None of this would be possible without your support. Your insight, energy, and trust have allowed us to build a solid foundation for the future.

As I write this letter, I am excited that 2023 looks to be an even better year for our work, and we expect to build on our momentum to bring more programs of impact to children and families in need.

Thank you so much for standing by We Care Foster Care through our years of transition. We look forward to partnering with you toward our shared mission for many years to come.

With Warmest Regards,

Lorraine H. Weber Board Chair

OUR BOARD OF

LORRAINE H. WEBER CO-FOUNDER AND CHAIR

Wayne County Court Administrator (Retired)

HON. KELLY A. RAMSEY CO-FOUNDER AND VICE CHAIR

3rd Circuit Court Judge

ANTHONY R. MCCREE TREASURER

GJC Managing Partner

HON. SHEILA A. GIBSON SECRETARY

3rd Circuit Court Judge

CHRIS BIESZCZAD

CASA Manager

Care House of Oakland County

SHUNYA L. CLEVELAND Middle School Counselor

River Rouge School District

KENNETH W. DONALDSON President & CEO

Black United Fund of Michigan

SARAH L. PARKER Youth Services Manager GrowthWorks

PORSHA STEVENSON CEO

PshayTop Notch Collections

JULIANA R. YOUSIF Director of Operations/Finance Metro Solutions, Inc.

WE CARE

OITALER N SPIHS

WE FOSTER GREAT RELATIONSHIPS

2022 EDUCARE

MATHEMATICS - FILLING IN THE GAPS DRAWING ON OUR STRENGTHS

This course uses concepts included in Mathematics Plain + Simple to place the most powerful problem-solving tool ever created within everyone’s reach. From skill building to application, this program supports and enhances any school’s curriculum. Courses include:

• Number Sense: understanding the fundamentals of numeracy;

• Pre-Algebra: relating and applying numeracy to algebra;

• Algebra: learning to reason symbolically, including linear and quadratic functions.

This course helps kids visualize and explore social skills in a fun and memorable way. Studies show that social skills are the top indicator of future success in school and life. Coupled with fundamental drawing objectives, Drawing on our Strengths helps kids:

• Enjoy art and express themselves in a positive way through drawing;

• Understand, retain and apply basic social skills to their daily life;

• Learn important skills to think and express ideas and feelings visually;

• Thrive in a safe, fun drawing community.

IMPROVE WITH IMPROV PLAY IT FORWARD

This coursestrengthens a child’s ability to cope with uncertainty and manage anxiety because improv is reliant upon trust. These courses focus on how participants can support each other by becoming active listeners. When this happens, an environment is created that allows children to build stronger relationships and to generate better ideas together. Improv’s value extends beyond the stage into classrooms, workplaces, and our daily lives. Learning through improv:

• Helps students gain confidence;

• Builds literacy skills;

• Proves what’s possible when they practice and persevere;

• Provides a creative outlet that allows them to find and express their unique voice;

• Builds valuable social skills;

• Helps overcome social anxiety and awkwardness.

This course provides hands-on experience learning new instruments and performing with others. Music impacts us socially and emotionally in profound ways and it acts as an exercise for the mind because playing an instrument engages nearly all areas of the brain at once. Learning music:

• Supports academic focus and achievement;

• Is therapeutic and builds social skills;

• Stimulates auditory, visual, and motor cortices of the brain, thus allowing students to apply that new-found strength to other life activities.

Math

STEAM

Introduction to the Arts

Music

Improv Drawing

After School Activities

Tutoring

WINTER SUMMER FALL

WENT FROM 0% TO 100% ACADEMIC GROWTH IN MATHEMATICS ON STATE STANDARDIZED TESTING.

HIGH SCHOOLERS

WENT FROM 25% TO 75% ACADEMIC GROWTH IN MATHEMATICS ON STATE STANDARDIZED TESTING.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

$153,608.88

EXPENSES

“THE PEACEMAKER TAUGHT US ABOUT THE SEVEN GENERATIONS. HE SAID, WHEN YOU SIT IN COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE, YOU MUST NOT THINK OF YOURSELF OR OF YOUR FAMILY, NOT EVEN OF YOUR GENERATION. HE SAID, MAKE YOUR DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE SEVEN GENERATIONS COMING, SO THAT THEY MAY ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY.”

-Oren Lyons (Seneca), Faithkeeper, Onondaga Nation

Alise

(So Zen Designs)

Keith Altenburg

Ashley (A Squared Studio)

Christa Anderson (Wildflower & Company)

Amazon Smile

Comerica Bank

Captain’s Bar

Jen Blaharski

Uit Brach (Northville Nail Boutique)

Marie Cooke

Melanie Cooke (Darakjian Jewelers)

Mary Liz Curtin (Leon & LuLu)

Jon Dameran, (Jet’s Pizza Southgate MI)

Chris Donabedian

Kenneth Donaldson

(BUF of MI)

Michael Dorazio

Lisa Dunn (DÉjÀ VU Upscale Designer Resale)

Lisa Fogarty (Younique Beauty)

Great Lakes Pot Pies, LLC

Wade Gugino

John and Ann Hern

Clark Hill, PLC

Jarod Hinson

Dianne Hunter

Mitch Jabczenski

Barbara Jones

George Johnsons and Co.

Maryl Kacir

Joel Kim (Mount-N-Repair)

Ruth Kochensberger (Franklin Grill & Tavern)

Jan Kruszewski

Helen LaPointe

Peter Leto

Magna Services of America, Inc.

Kasey Malley

(Small Favors Gift Gallery)

Marcia (Shades Optical)

Mariah

(Scandia Home)

Anthony McCree

Lisa McDonald (Fitness Driven)

Robert McLachlan

John McSorley

Mexican Gardens

Barbie Morrisey (Belle Tire)

Maureen Movold

Deborah Miesel

Pam Migliore (Franklin Auto Service)

Noelle Naimi

(Color Street & Angelo’s Party Shop) Network for Good

Eric Olson

Other’s First April Pleska

Kathleen Powell (Rubbit Therapeutic Massage)

Primo’s Pizza

Lisa Psenka (Jolli Lodge)

Mitch Quirin (Frankenmuth River Tours)

Alexis Ramsey

Hon. Kelly Ramsey

Raymond James Global Account

Marc Robichaud (Cellular Consultants, LLC)

John Rochetto (Kroger)

Jeremy Ross (The Waterfront Restaurant & Lounge)

Dave Rutt

Stephanie Ryan

Margaret Schwartz

Chris Seavitt

Seed Foundation

Ingrid Shriner-Ward

Susan Siegal

(Event Bliss)

Kelly Smith (Atelier GP)

Mary Smith (Wines for Humanity)

Frank Sobie

John Sprentall

Kathy Stewart

Ann Turnbull

(Village Palm)

United Way of Washtenaw County

Mary Wackrow

(Unity of Royal Oak Outreach Team)

Lorraine Weber

Whiskeys on the Water

A SPECIAL TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS

Detroit Creativity Project

Goo Genius

The Cartoon Company Mathematics (plain + simple)

Inner Explorer

Play Ukulele by Ear

YOU HELP US MAKE

THE STARFISH STORY

One day, a man was walking along a beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” “Son,” the man said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference?” After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…“I made a difference for that one.”

~ Loren Eiseley