Joshua Ancheta

Juan Cuevas
Sebastian Lopez
Mariane Zaratan
Ms. Salinas
JMJS
English
Period 1

Proposal

Introduction
About 400,000 kids are under foster care in America and in San Diego there are 3,500 are
in the system because parents abandoned them or just separated because they were viewed as
unfit parents (Jarvis 1). 50% of foster kids earn their high school diploma and only 2% earn a
bachelor's degree or higher, but the most shocking statistic is that 81% of foster kids will become
parents sooner than expected and will repeat the same patterns of abandonment (best rank 1). We
JMJS are not only giving them tangible things like clothes or toys, but primarily school supplies
we are also giving aid to center for children in whatever they need. we are taking a stand on no
longer neglecting the foster kids because all kids are our future and hope to lead by example to
show that we can all make a difference. For a better tomorrow we have to start with our kids
because all our kid have the potential to be something great like teachers, doctors, and even the
president of America.

Motivation
At the moment there are around 4,000 children in San Diego foster homes that are
finalized and ready to be adopted, as well a plethora more waiting to be placed in the system
(KPBS 2). There are many kids who stay between twelve to eighteen months in care to see if
their family resolves their issues and will take their child back. If that does not occur, then
relatives are looked upon before finally processing the child into the system if no one decides or
can bear raising them. The problem then lies with not always finding a good home for the
children, but processing the parents that want to adopt a child. In any state, there are given
regulations that require paperwork, a background check, and even training in a facility before
fostering, but even by doing so some families don't get processed and cleared and the child ends
up having to wait even longer due to lost paperwork or any number of issues. Last October,
Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that significantly shortened the parenting process and
expenses to adopt a foster child to encourage new and existing parents that look towards
adoption (KPBS 1). Even so, the children have a while to wait before adoption. In the book
Beautiful Souls there was a man by the name of Paul Gruninger who showed compassion and
granted Jewish refugees that escaped asylum in his country. He gave these people hope of a life
beyond their troubles. Through our project, we expect to instill hope into the children that they
will overcome obstacles in life and be adopted in the near future by arranging a donation drive of
schools supplies and other basic luxuries the children cannot always receive and to inspire them
to take up a practice or hobby to ease the time they do wait. We will set up donations of what is
appropriate, mostly toys or games, for the kids to have more pastimes available to them and
make their stay in the foster home all the more comfortable.

Project summary
We will give the foster kids mostly school supplies, most definitely backpacks, and toys
through our donation bins. We will be cooperating with the Center for Children San Diego
assessing the small activities we can perform such as book readings. We aim to inspire more
teens at Olympian High School to keep in mind for the less fortunate, and that these children .
The drive will also achieve our goal that we wanted to raise awareness about foster kids through
flyers posted around campus, and information placed on the bins.

Project Details:

Architecture and Environment
For our project we will require an organization, Childrens Center San Diego, that will
allow us to participate in the care of foster children for several dates, tangible donations, two bins
to accept donations (three to four feet in diameter), approval of the placement of the bins, one in
the office and one in a classroom (4 square feet each bin), and a secure location (a garage) with
about 25 sq. feet available for storage of donation material.

Implementation Issues and Challenges
Our group is proposing this project because we believe that by creating packages of small
gifts through donations, we could impact the lives of many foster kids as well as raise awareness
for their situations. The donations we would ask from other students would include, clothing,
toys, board games, and books.
The proposed ideas were inspired events and recreational activities that clubs such as,
YMCA and Boys and Girls club have also created. While implementing this project we will be
showing students at OHS the statistics on Foster children as well as real first hand stories. We
hope that with this information students will prove empathetic and feel that they should take part
in volunteering as well.

Obstacles and Challenges
1. Any rejections made by the foster care organizations, or any problems with volunteering
(i.e. not meeting age volunteer requirements)
2. If there are any objections made on our main project, the big sister big brother, then we
have the donations.
3. With the donations we would still be able to raise awareness in OHS as well as impact
the lives of foster children.

Deliverables
Project would produce
An event where foster kids could have fun and give us a chance to talk to them
personally.
Donation boxes where OHS students could donate clothes, toys, games, and
books.
Awareness to the foster kids, their situations, and the statistics.
The Foster Care event
Our group would travel to the foster care organization, talk with the children there
as well as do activities and act as an older sibling to them. This will help any
foster child that feels lonely, or need someone to talk to.
Donation Boxes
There would be donation boxes set up in some classrooms and the office.
The bins would be decorated with facts about foster children and what we need
them to donate. The top of the bin would be a smiling face to catch peoples
attention to the box.
With the boxes we would create flyers to set up around the school, to ensure that
everyone is aware of the bins, and hopefully donate.
Fliers will include facts, the room numbers of where the bins are located, and a
list of what needs to be donated.
Process of creating the Foster care Event
Contacting the organizations, deciding on the best date to set the event on as well
as what the event will consists of.
Once approved we will gather any materials needed to host the event.
Have the event, film during to capture every moment. Interview some of the kids.
Process of creating the Donation Boxes
Get the project approved by Ms. Grossman
Gather materials: the bins, the paint needed, construction paper.
Speak to teachers about setting up the donation bins in a class.
Design the flyers, and the messages that are going to be put on the bins.
Create the bins and place them in the rooms, and put the fliers around the school.
Our project will provide entertainment for the foster kids, as well as giving them
someone to talk to and bond with. We would be able to speak to them about their lives,
and connect personally. The donation boxes would provide the foster care with more
clothing, books, toys and games, tangible items that will give them luxuries that they
might not have. Implementing this project at OHS would also give students an idea of
what foster care life would be like, and their hardships, and hopefully they are able to feel
empathetic towards them.
This project would be able to connect to one of the Great Eight words, empathy. When
we are discussing this project to students we hope that they are able to not only feel for
them, but put themselves into their shoes, imagine themselves in those situations, and
also want to help. Since we will be setting up a booth during lunch we are hoping to
inform students and recruit students who want to make a difference and volunteer.

Timeline

Week One: January 27th - January 31st
Memeber Task
Joshua Contact organizations and gather information about them.
Mariane Gather supplies for donation bins and finish the design for the donation bins.
Juan Make donation bins, and put them in the office and classroom.
Sebastian Edit proposal for final draft due on February 7.
Everyone Find participants by advertising with flyers.

Week Two: February 3rd - February 7th
Member Task
Joshua Continue to keep contact with organizations, help with bins.
Mariane Finish the final designs and posters with the new info given from CFC.
Juan Continue to work on bins, start documenting and filming.
Sebastian Review the sheet we have to turn into Ms. Grossman after Josh finishes it.
Everyone Help with bins, help each other with anything.

Week Three: February 10th - February 14th
Member Task
Joshua Contact Ms. Grossman, asking for permission on the flyers. Creating the teams
instagram.
Mariane Wait for permission from Grossman before further handling flyers Begin the
working on the CSE tri-fold and information.
Juan Help hang the fliers, bring in the donation bins.
Sebastian Before submitting reviewing the flyers edit and revise, work on CSE tri-fold.
Everyone Start on the info for CSE Awareness booth.

Week Four: February 17th - February 21st
Memeber Task
Joshua Hopefully receive an answer from Grossman, work on the CSE booth.
Mariane Gather materials for the booth, the wheel that will attract people to look.
Juan Help work on the info for tri-fold, set up donation boxes.
Sebastian Help work on the info for presenting to people who come to the booth.
Everyone Prepare and have the CSE Awareness booth.

Week Five: February 24th - February 28th
Memeber Task
Joshua Contacting the CFC about anything other opportunities again, checking on the
donation boxes.
Mariane Working on the projects final tri-fold and video.
Juan Mainly working on putting the video together.
Sebastian Editing the tri-fold and video.
Everyone Working on the video, and anything else for the final presentation at senior
showcase.

Week Six: March 3rd - March 7th
Members Tasks
Joshua Preparing everything for Senior Showcase, picking up donations from bin.
Mariane Finishing the tri-fold, accounting items from donations.
Juan Adding the final conclusion on the video.
Sebastian Editing video and also counting the items.
Everyone Work hard for the senior showcase.

Conclusion
As our senior class participates in the Common Senior Experience, our group is helping
foster kids by providing them with clothes and toys that will be donated. We will have a big
brother, big sister day to hopefully inspire them by spending the day with them. There are too
many kids in foster homes, with a wide range of ages that have been abandoned, so we hope that
we can give them a positive attitude with what is to come later in their life. A problem with
foster kids also includes the process of someone wanting to adopt a child; they have to go
through a long process in order to adopt a child, making it them wait a long time. With this
project we will raise awareness of foster kids and help them with their needs.

References
Belmont, D. National Facts About Children in Foster Care. Web. 29 Jan 2014.
<http://www.fostercarealumni.org/resources/foster_care_facts_and_statistics.htm>.

Contractor, KPBS. KPBS Public Broadcasting. Gov. Brown Signs Bill To Help Foster
Parents Adopt. Oct. 2013. Web. 29 Jan. 2014 <http://www.kpbs.org/audioclips/20112/>
KPBS Public Broadcasting. Thousands Of Kids In Local Foster Care System Are In Need
Of A Good Home. March. 2009. Web. 29 Jan. 2014
<http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/mar/31/thousands-of-kids-in-local-foster-care-system-are/>
"Facts About Foster Care." Childrens Rights RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.
"A Center for Children & Family Law." A Center for Children & Family Law. N.p., n.d.
Web. 06 Feb. 2014.