Make the difference in a foster child's education!

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*You must be local to Tucson and be able to drive to various schools, group homes, etc. to visit your child*

Volunteers play an important role in supporting the educational success of foster children in the FosterEd program. Volunteers serve as Education Champions in cases where biological parents or relatives of the foster child are unable to do so. Volunteer Education Champions are appointed by the Juvenile Court and are trained and supported by FosterEd Education Liaisons.

Volunteer Education Champions facilitate and lead the education team formed around the foster child. The education team includes the foster child’s child welfare worker, behavioral health worker, one or more school representatives, the caregiver (foster parent or group home worker), and, if possible, the biological parent and other engaged adults (CASAs, tutors, coaches, etc.).

As a volunteer, you can expect to give approximately 2-4 hours a week, most of which can be done online. You'll be assigned to a student with educational needs who has no adult in their life capable of advocating for their educational success.

Some things our volunteers accomplish: Getting an IEP for a student, getting tutoring organized for a student, making sure teachers are aware of the student's situation and supporting the student, working on homework and talking about educational goals with the student, fighting to keep the student at a school where they are succeeding, and enrolling the student in camps and extracurricular activities. If you're passionate about foster youth, education, or helping a child succeed, this is for you!