By Janice Fabella and Liz Nyberg
 Matthew and Kaitlyn work on craft projects while their parents attend a monthly meeting at Help One Child. Kristi Clarke, a professional respite caregiver, offers guidance as needed. |
You have probably heard the riddle, “How do you eat an elephant?” Answer: “One bite at a time.”
This must be the approach of JoAnne and Mark Morris, co-founders of Help One Child. They recruit foster parents to provide loving homes for at-risk children in the foster care system - one child at a time.
As we arrived to observe an evening seminar sponsored by the Morrises, we found children skipping off to a room to play under the caring eye of a trained caregiver. The parents meet monthly to support each other and hear speakers discuss certain behavior problems that their children might be manifesting.
JoAnne greeted us warmly and introduced us to the parents gathering to hear Nancy Ikeda, a child therapist, speak about Intersubjectivity (Empathy). Children act out because they can’t say what they are feeling, Ikeda said. One father said emotions are higher during the holiday season, which causes more behavior problems. Everyone seemed to agree.
Ikeda also spoke about Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), a condition caused by neglect and abuse (physical, emotional, sexual) in which a child has difficulty forming loving, lasting relationships.
Help One Child’s mission is to recruit, train and support married couples and single adults willing to provide a home or volunteer services for foster children. Some of the parents have taken the next step by adopting one or more foster children when appropriate.
“Providing an opportunity to help one child turn his life around has to rank as one of the greatest satisfactions of my life. Being a foster parent gives me that opportunity,” said Christine Goodman, who lives in Los Altos with her husband Bill. She is an attorney and longtime volunteer with Help One Child.
The Morrises, with the help of many volunteers, organize parties for the children throughout the year and a family camp in the summer. These socials culminated in the annual Christmas party last week, where over 200 children and their foster parents enjoyed food, gifts, games and friendship.
Mark said, “When foster children ‘emancipate’ from the system and are able to make a go at life on their own, we rejoice. One child is currently training for the Marines; another is working in administration at a local hospital.”
Individual donors such as those who contribute to the Holiday Fund provide 45 percent of Help One Child’s bare-bones budget. The Morrises report that they are looking for volunteers as well as financial support.
For more information, call 917-1210, (888) KID-HOPE or e-mail info@helponechild.org.
The Town Crier Holiday Fund supports 11 area non-profits that are not supported by major donors and are using virtually all their resources to help the needy. Checks should be made payable to: Town Crier Holiday Fund, 138 Main St., Los Altos 94022. For more information about the fund, call editor Bruce Barton at 948-9000, ext. 301.
