Opportunities From: Speak Up for Kids

This project encourages students to impactful awareness videos (for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or Facebook) addressing crucial issues within the foster care system and tying it back to Speak Up for Kids and our mission to "mitigate trauma and cultivate self-worth".  

The videos aim to evoke emotions and prompt action from the community. By partnering with Speak Up for Kids, students can gain insights into the challenges faced by foster children and devise compelling calls to action.

The project provides a structured outline for video creation, emphasizing attention-grabbing intros, storytelling, problem-solving, and calls to action. Upon completion, students are encouraged to share their videos on social media platforms, tagging relevant organizations and using designated hashtags to amplify awareness.

The project offers opportunities for community service hours after the project has been completed.

To get started:

This project is for students who are chapter leaders, co-leaders or officers at a school.   This is also for leaders who want to start a chapter at a school where a chapter does not currently exist. 

It is our goal to have a chapter in every school in Palm Beach County. 

Chapter leaders are required to complete all paperwork and follow the "chapter agreements".

You will submit hours for all administrative, planning, creating, strategizing meeting leadership, recruiting, outlining, leading, ANYTHING related to running your chapter. 

This opportunity is ONLY for Chapter Leaders. 

This is for students who are chapter members at their school. 
Use this opportunity to log hours for chapter meetings and any other business related to your chapter. 

Sign up for this opportunity if you attended the STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids workshop at the FASC District 5 event at Joaquin Garcia High School on Tuesday, 10/7. 

You will receive 1 community service hour for your participation at that event. 

We enjoyed meeting you!

If you're looking for a meaningful way to earn community service hours, our Learning About Foster Care: Video-Based Learning project is a great place to start! This opportunity helps you gain a deeper understanding of the foster care system, the experiences of foster children, and the impact of advocacy efforts.

✔️ Watch a series of short, eye-opening videos
✔️ Explore real-life impact stories on our website
✔️ Submit a short reflection journal
✔️ Help spread awareness about what you’ve learned

✅ Verified community service hours
✅ A better understanding of foster care and child advocacy
✅ A stepping stone for future volunteer and internship opportunities with us

1️⃣ Sign Up for the Project: [Click the sign up link at the top of this page.]
2️⃣ Access the Video List & Instructions: [Emailed to you upon signup]
3️⃣ Complete the Steps & Submit Your Journal

We'd love to have you join this project and see the impact it has on your perspective! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

--The STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids Team

STUDENT TEACHERS can earn community service hours through the STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids program and make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected kids through the magic of music.

This opportunity is for someone who would like to help lead and coordinate in our Music Buddies program.  Ideally, this would be a parent volunteer who would appreciate working with foster parents and helping the student coordinator match our music students with our student teacher volunteers.  This person would also help with recruiting student teachers into the program who are willing to give music lessons to children in the foster care system, who are living with relatives or non-relatives or adoptive children who may have had an open case at one time.

This person would work closely with the Program Director to facilitate the logistics of this program.

STUDENT TEACHERS can earn community service hours through the STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids program and make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected kids through the magic of music.  

This student will act as a liaison between the program Director and the Student Teachers throughout the school year. 

This opportunity is in our Music Buddies Program.  STUDENT TEACHERS can earn community service hours through the STUDENTS Speak Up for Kids program and make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected kids through the magic of music.  

All lessons are VIRTUAL.  SO MANY of our foster children's lives are full of social worker visits, doctor appointments, sibling visits, etc. and this gift of virtual music lessons allows the child to have an opportunity for music without having to leave their home.

Once you are matched with your student, you will walk through an orientation process and then get connected to your family. 

Once the initial training is complete you will meet with the child and the family (phone or virutally) to work out the best schedule for all parties.  You will then meet once a week via Google Meet or Zoom. Lessons are typically 30 minutes. You will receive 1 hour per lesson (this allows time for both prep and the lesson).

You will submit your hours on this site.

Simply hit the "Sign Up" option on the top right to accept this opportunity and get started.

Go here for more information about Music Buddies. 

This opportunity is for those who are interested in serving on the student team (host, editor, blogger, etc.) for our Healing Hearts podcast. Click here to learn more about the podcast & listen to a few episodes!

Once you sign up for this event, someone from our team will be in touch with you about how to get started.

The "Resource Project" encourages students to engage in resource-driven initiatives that provide support to children in the foster care system in Palm Beach County.

By using their organizational skills, creativity and compassion, students can execute impactful projects that offer resources to help these children thrive in their daily lives. 

Examples include (but not limited to):

Goodie Bags:

Seasonal and holiday goodie bags are always a great way to spread comfort and cheer. These gestures can make a huge difference in brightening someone's day and offering emotional support. 

Kits:

Students can assemble different types of care kits ranging from essential items, books, arts and crafts and educational materials to help children in foster care feel supported and cared for during their time in the system. Encouragement kits, self-care kits, 

Drives:

Students can organize fundraising events or donation drives. We love to support the children in foster care by supplying them with new items. From clothes to school supplies and anything in between. A care supply list organized by age is attached below. 

Care supply lists

Our Life Skills Portal is a national resource designed to support foster youth who are aging out of foster care and transitioning to independence. It provides essential guidance on topics like financial literacy, job preparation, health and wellness, and more—all in an easy-to-access format.

What makes our portal unique? Most of the content is written peer-to-peer, meaning young adults like you are sharing insights and advice to help others. We would love for you to contribute!

Choose a Topic

Prepare Your Submission

Submit Your Work

We appreciate your time and creativity in helping foster youth gain the skills they need to succeed. Thank you for making an impact!

The "Use Your Skills Project" empowers students to leverage their unique talents, passions, and skills to advocate for and benefit children in foster care or youths aging out of the foster system as they transition to adulthood.

By harnessing their creativity, compassion, and expertise, students can create impactful projects that provide support, resources, and opportunities for these vulnerable individuals to thrive.

NOTE:  99% of our projects are virtual. Be sure to reach out to us for all other possibilities. 

Examples of Advocacy Projects 

Calming Workshops:
Students with artistic talents can organize art therapy workshops for children in foster care, providing them with a creative outlet to express themselves and cope with emotional challenges.


Educational Empowerment Initiatives:
Students passionate about education can develop tutoring programs or educational workshops tailored to the needs of children in foster care, ensuring they have access to quality learning opportunities.

Life Skills Training Seminars:
Students with practical skills in areas such as budgeting, cooking, and job readiness can organize seminars or workshops to teach essential life skills to youths aging out of foster care, equipping them for independent living.

Advocacy Campaigns: Students with a passion for social justice can launch advocacy campaigns to raise awareness about the challenges faced by children in foster care or youths aging out of the system, advocating for policy changes and increased support.Creative

Fundraising Events/Donation Drives:
Students with event planning and creative skills can organize fundraising events such as art exhibitions, talent shows, or charity concerts to raise funds for organizations supporting children in foster care or youths in transition.

Content Creation:
Students with  video creation, technology, writing skills, etc. can submit content to our online portal that serves as a resource hub, providing information, support services, and community connections for youths aging out of the system.