Mission: Help One Child supports kids impacted by foster care and adoption through strengthening their families with tangible resources, education and community. Partnering with churches and community-based-organizations enables sustainable local connection and care.
According to the Help One Child website, the statistics for foster youth are sobering: The high school drop-out rate for foster youth is 27.9%; 80% of youth who entered foster care at age 12 or older leave the system through emancipation; 40% experience homelessness upon aging out of the foster care system; and 60% of U.S. native-born human trafficking victims are foster youth.
2025 update: This past year Help One Child saw close to 5,000 child beneficiaries from its programs and services and deployed more than 10,000 volunteer hours. It is committed to supporting families holistically through tangible, emotional, spiritual and educational resources, addressing critical needs for families while they navigate the after-effects of childhood trauma.
Education is key to equipping adoptive, foster and kinship parents to better care for their children. The Help One Child website states that 40% of children in foster care have three or more placements, but foster parents are less likely to initiate placement disruption when they are equipped with education surrounding behavioral challenges and a supportive community of people who understand the unique experience of a foster parent.
A variety of support groups offer families connection as well as education. Since launching its services outside of its founding region of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties in 2019, Help One Child now offers its full breadth of services everywhere it’s active. In nine counties around the San Francisco Bay Area, families are being strengthened by the work of Help One Child.
Why the Holiday Fund is needed: As Executive Director Matt McDonald explained, “The kids we serve are some of the most vulnerable of our communities. The parents and volunteers who show them love are imperfect, real-life heroes. This work is often lonely and scary, and we are so grateful to support any way needed. This next year we are adding programs to also serve older foster youth who are aging out of the system. Help One Child is funded completely by compassionate individuals and local organizations. Thank you for partnering with us all these many years!”
“We strive to keep our program costs low by deploying an army of volunteers and are incredible stewards with $0.90 of every dollar going directly to the programs that empower families, make connections and impact lives.”
Location: 858 University Ave., Los Altos
Founded: 1993
Annual budget: $650,000
Staff: Six full-time employees and one part-time employee, along with 100 volunteers.
Information: helponechild.org
