TFI Family Services Inc. was recently awarded a grant for $2,500 from the Harley-Davidson Foundation.
The Harley-Davidson Foundation, dealers, employees and customers, have a long history of supporting communities and causes. Harley Davidson seeks to support positive social impact for communities, employees and riders, according to a news release.
TFI Family Services plans to use the grant funds for the “Placement Partner Program” (PPP). The goal behind the program is to ensure that the foster parents who receive a new child (or children) into their home have the adequate supplies that are needed for care of the child.
Many times, foster parents pay for extra expenses out of their pocket whenever the financial need exceeds the amount that the state provides. Through the Placement Partner Program, TFI Family Services will be able to help foster parents with these unexpected financial responsibilities that arise on a case by case basis.
PPP fits into the very core of TFI’s mission statement of being “Devoted to the Strength of Family.” By helping foster families with the resources that are needed, they are simultaneously affecting many aspects of the family. PPP will help to supply a needed item to a foster child, thereby removing an added traumatic loss to their already traumatic situation. If a child does not have the medicine they need, the clothes, coats or shoes they need, they will not feel comfortable or safe in their new home – which is essential for a successful fostering experience. If a child is unable to participate in an activity (sports, music, arts) that they are accustomed to participating to, it again adds to the traumatic sense of loss. By making these activities available financially, the involvement in the same activities can be a source of comfort to the child.
A spokesman said TFI Family Services is grateful to organizations like Harley-Davidson that see the need in their communities and take action to address it. It is because of partnerships such as this that they are able to fulfill our mission and continue to provide much needed services to children in foster care, the spokesman stated. Persons who would like to help a foster child, may contact Tina Holt at 785-271-6657 x1194 or email: [email protected].