HOW WE HELP
Brunswick County Department of Social Services
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. (Kids In Difficult Situations) helps K.I.D.S. under the care of the Brunswick County Department of Social Services by providing resources and services not available through public funds. Social Workers identify unmet needs such as medical needs, , sports teams, dance classes and emergency placement needs such as car seats and hygiene supplies.
"The work you do has allowed us to consistently help families in need with resources that would not be otherwise available. You are having a significant impact on children and families in our community. Thank you."
-Rich Ohmer, Social Work Program Administrator
Families We Help So They Can Help K.I.D.S.
Families with open Child Protective Services Assessment cases where a report has been made alleging child abuse, neglect or dependency.
In-Home Services families who may need help to be able to keep their child at home and not go into foster care.
Grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends who provide care under Kinship Placement and often do not receive government assistance.
Licensed foster parents who receive monthly stipends, but not all care-related expenses are covered such as in an emergency placement.
Environmental Safety:
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. helps to pay for pest control and home safety needs.
​
*Pest control services provided to families receiving In-Home Services create a safe home environment so they can keep their child at home.
*The home of a relative willing to take in a child was too close to water. WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. paid to have a fence installed so they could become a Kinship Placement family.
a
Medical/Mental Health:
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. helps pay for expenses not reimbursed by Medicaid or private insurance.
*A young child living with a grandparent was able to have several therapy sessions which she would not have had otherwise.
*An infant received a special “helmet” to protect the head as his skull was not forming properly. If untreated it would put the child at risk for neurological damage. Medicaid would not pay for the “helmet” unless the infant also underwent surgery.
Socialization/Summer Enrichment:
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. helps to pay for summer camps, art and dance lessons and sports participation.
​
*Summer camp provided the opportunity for a youth transitioning from one foster home to another to spend time with positive social peers and maintain stability.
​
*A young teen in foster care was saving money to buy a kayak so he could go fishing. His determination was noticed by his social worker and Guardian ad Litem volunteer who requested WAVES purchase the kayak and have him use his money to buy the safety equipment he needed. WAVES bought the kayak and the teen followed through on his commitment and according to his social worker is now “living the kayak life up like a pro".
Placement Stabilization:
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. is part of the support system helping kids while also supporting their families for specific needs not provided through public funds.
*Kids Kloset provides Pack-N-Plays, car seats, diapers, food and clothes gift cards, infant supplies, hygiene supplies & other items often needed for emergency placements.
*Beds and mattresses were purchased for two children placed with a relative who did not have any extra beds and mattresses available for the children.
Backpacks 4 K.I.D.S.:
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. provides kids with new backpacks, as well as school supplies for the year, to help them feel normal at school.
​
213 new backpacks and sets of school supplies were distributed in 2022
Gift Cards:
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. provides gift cards in emergency situations for food, clothing, and gas for medical appointments and job interviews.
Scholarships:
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. awards scholarships to students who meet eligibility requirements, including financial need, for college or other post-high school educational/training programs. Awards are renewed if students continue to meet scholarship requirements. Since 2012 nearly $169,000 in scholarships has been awarded.
*Two North Brunswick High School graduates have received $3000 per year for their freshman and sophomore years at UNC Charlotte.
*A South Brunswick High School graduate is attending UNC-Greensboro and another South Brunswick graduate is attending East Carolina University. Their scholarships provide $3000 per year for four years
GENEROUS DONORS MAKE OUR SCHOLARSHIPS POSSIBLE
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP
Guardian ad Litem
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. assists Guardian ad Litem volunteers by providing gas cards that can used by volunteers when traveling to see children assigned to them. In addition, WAVES has provided our program over time with “Guardian ad Litem Logo ID brief bags” for which our volunteers are so grateful.
WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. helps the Guardian ad Litem program meet the child’s needs when other resources have been exhausted. It has offered a child the opportunity to participate in age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate activities, as well as other extracurricular, social, cultural activities. WAVES 4 K.I.D.S. has assisted the GAL program in securing an extra pair of glasses, provided therapeutic horseback riding lessons, tutoring, a play and pack for relative not receiving any state funding, and any unmet medical and hygiene needs for a child. The Guardian ad Litem program works very closely with the Department of Social Services and tends to coordinate efforts jointly.