What is MAP:84?
The simple campaign to keep 1 child out of foster care for just $84 a month.
Our 2021 giving campaign was so successful, we wanted to keep it going. Would you consider a monthly or one-time donation?
From MAP founder, Chelsea Sabo
1984. 84 out of 100. MAP:84 Campaign
The year is 1984. Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, Prince, and Tina Turner are playing in your walkman, as you cruise the streets wearing acid-washed jeans or spandex! A movie ticket is $2.50 and your monthly rent is only $350! For many, the 80s were a simpler time, and life was neon!
But for 84% of children in foster care, life is not so simple or bright.
Did you know that 84 out of 100 children are in Georgia foster care, for solvable problems? These solvable problems exist because of intergenerational cycles of poverty and trauma.
Over the last 6 years, Mothers Advocacy Project has worked hard to prevent families from separation. This work is called Family Preservation. I am thrilled that we have been very successful! However, there are still children in foster care waiting to go home and mommas counting the days their babies have been gone.
Therefore, as we grow our reach and test the adaptability of our model, we will be opening up a new track to reunify these families. This work is called Reunification Readiness.
In keeping with the theme, I would be remiss to not mention George Orwell’s novel, 1984. It’s been years since I have read this dystopian social science fiction novel, so let me refresh your memory, too. In the world Orwell creates, he paints a vivid picture of life as it should never be: trapped, controlled, and where “big brother is always watching you.” He refers to these watchdogs as the societal beasts.
Poverty and the foster care system itself can feel much like this dystopian society. Once a family is involved with DFCS (Division of Family and Children Services), it is hard to get out. This is why over 1/2 of foster children stay in the system for 2+ years. While in foster care, both the child’s and parent’s lives are watched, documented, and analyzed. Decisions are made for individuals and families by people who don’t even know them (at least at first). And because of the trauma they have already endured, the pressure of this system creates a numbing fear, paralyzing families from moving forward. The foster system today is not working and no one will argue with that... not even DFCS. I believe that MAP is perfectly positioned to step in. We want to see families healed and know that the cycle of intergenerational trauma must be broken first so we can replace it with a renewed cycle of family stability. With this true and lasting intervention, we hope to see systemic changes impacting generations to come.
We asked our donors, “Would you help us to disrupt the dystopian reality of 28 families (84 children) in foster care, so we can ensure that family separation is not the solution to their family’s struggle?”
In 2021, our goal was to raise $84,672 to work with 28 families, which crazy enough, would be an estimated 84 children. I am excited to say that our MAP:family well exceeded our goal and raised $152,287.
Thank you!
How can you help?
Join the MAP:84 crew today, a team of families pledging to give $84/mo for 12 months. Sign up.
Did you know that 84 out of 100 children are in Georgia foster care for solvable problems?
These solvable problems exist because of intergenerational cycles of poverty and trauma.
In 2021, our goal was to raise $84,672 to work with 28 families, impacting an estimated 84 children. In that giving year alone, our MAP:family well exceeded our goal and raised $152,287. Wow!
Looks like we were on to something, so we kept it going…
Be a strong mom. Raise strong kids.
We have seen mothers in our program go from significant mental health diagnoses to none. These moms now have an increase in parenting competency and have had their family stability increase significantly.