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Virginia Lawyer Seeks to Open Foster Care Non-Profit
By Marilyn Cox, Madison Eagle—A lawyer in Madison County Virginia is using her other talents on her farm working with foster children. Catherine Bowers wants to expand her work and go from being a concerned volunteer and foster parent to the founder of a nonprofit. Bowers would like to open Sparrows Rest and invite children to farms to assist in caring for animals. In the process and under the supervision of horse professionals and mental health professionals, Bowers says children will learn problem solving and conflict resolution and develop self-esteem.
“Just to be able to give the kids a safe place and some attention and make them feel good about themselves and help others. I think it also gave me a better perspective of my job to see these kids up close and personal,” Catherine Bowers said.
Bowers is particularly interested in working with youth who are transitioning from care to independent life. About half of the foster care population in Virginia consists of teenagers. She has seen that they often are not equipped with the basic skills to succeed alone in the world.
“A lot of them end up not finishing school, not getting a GED and they don’t have a driver’s license so they can’t get jobs because they have no way to get to work. They don’t have reliable transportation. So it just repeats the cycle generationally. We are trying to break that cycle,” Bowers said. “A lot of the young girls in particular end up in relationships that are abusive. There are pregnancies. These kids can barely take care of themselves, let alone a baby.”
Starting a nonprofit has it challenges, however. Bowers is experiencing difficulties gaining funding and getting approved for the appropriate zoning of her property. She has a long road ahead of her, but she is committed to finding a way to make it work. She believes if she is diligent that she will eventually have the organization that she dreams of.
Courtesy of Madison Eagle
Original Article: Creating a Brightwood haven