Becca Bilokon

Project Proposal

A.Abstract
The title of my paper will be called Maltreatment and Neglect in the
Foster Care System and my project will be called Give a smile, Get a
Smile. I chose this topic because I knew I wanted to work on a topic related
to children. I read an article where a foster mother abused her five foster
children for seven years. The kids came to school hungry, bruised, and dirty
but no one said anything, and the social worker visited the children only once
a year or so. I was appalled by the maltreatment this foster mother and
social worker showed towards the children. I decided to do this topic because
I wanted to know more and give a voice to the kids who dont have one.
Some of my driving questions behind my research are as follows: Does child
abuse happen in just foster homes or does it happen in permanent
placement homes as well? How often does child abuse happen? Is there a
certain age of kids that are more prone to abuse? Does gender of the child
affect the amount of abuse? Do different states have different regulations?
What are the steps social services take to prevent abuse? How often does
Social Services check on the children?
My consultant, Mrs. Salzler, will assist me in planning the event for my
project. I would like to work with her because I feel she will give helpful input
towards my project. Ill host an event where people will come and their
admission will be a child comfort item such as: blankets, socks, pajamas,

stuffed animals, toys, movies, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. I will then sort the
items by gender and age, make and decorate the package, and give the
packages to the organization CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) or
an equivalent organization to give to new foster kids. My goal is to make at
least 15- 20 packages for the kids. Im going to announce my project to my
church community where members can come to the event or donate an item
if they cant/dont attend the event. I will announce it to my school
community as well, so they will also be my audience if they choose to attend.
My clients are indirectly the foster kids, my packages will hopefully help
them through this rough and confusing time in their life and thats the whole
point of this project. My project will most likely take place around the middle
of March so Ill have enough time to make the packages. I would like the
weather to be warmer in case my event happens outside. The children will
be the ones who benefit from this project, and not only will they receive
comforting packages but it will give a voice to the kids who dont have one.
Alongside my advisor, Mrs. Vanschenck, the organization will evaluate the
outcome of my project by assessing the amount of packages delivered to the
children. The materials needed for this project will include: boxes for the
donation drive, posters and markers for advertisement, a location for the
event, and a computer for more flyers, package supplies like bags, paints,
cardstock, and tissue paper, food, drink, and activities for the event.

B.

Learning Skills

Skills to be enhanced
I will need to learn public speaking skills

I will need to learn how to host an event

I will need to learn how to write speeches
I will need to learn how to sort items in appropriate piles

Skills that are brand new to me

I will need to learn how to talk to organizations

I will need to learn how to make gift bags
I will need to learn how to have a professional conversation in
person and over the phone

C.

Project Steps

Preliminary Steps

Midway Steps

Later Steps

Follow Up

Choose and research

organizations, Contact
Organization, Find a
venue and a date,
Confirm representatives
of the organization can
come, create the
agenda for the event
Write a speech, Give
speech to my church
congregation, Create
drop off boxes for
church and school,
make posters and flyers
to promote event,
confirm agenda for the
event
Pick up food for the
event, confirm whos
coming, pick up items
from various drop off
boxes, host the event
Clean up after the
event, Collect all the
donations, sort the
items in piles according
to age group and

4 Hours

4.5 hours

8 hours

5.5 hours

gender, collect
materials for the
packages, make the
packages, write Thank
You notes to everyone
who helped me out,
bring the finished
packages to the
organization

D.

Project Documentation

I will take pictures or have someone else take pictures of the event, I
will keep all letters and posters/flyers that I create. I will also take
pictures of the donated items laid out and then pictures after I put
them into packages for the children.

E.Project Justification
This project definitely will be challenging for me because I dont like
public speaking or being the center of attention and this project will
put me in both of these scenarios. Im a quiet person but Ive been
trying to work on being louder and less afraid to stand up in front of
people. I believe this project will help me accomplish this because I
have to stand up in front of my entire church community and give a
speech about my project and ask them to donate children items and
attend my event. I also have to host this event which will be difficult
because Ive never hosted such an extravagant gathering before. Im
going to have to speak in front of the audience that comes to the event
as well. Overall this project puts me out of my comfort zone but in the
end itll be a good experience for me.

F. Project-Paper Connection

My topic is about foster parent abuse so naturally my project will be

beneficial to foster children. I will give my packages to CASA or another
organization that deals directly with foster children. I chose my project
because, hopefully, it will give some comfort to new foster children
who may be going through a rough time.

G.

Academic Honesty

I understand that any academic dishonesty by me on any part of the

project will result in failure of the Senior Project and forfeiture of the
Legal Studies Seal on my High School diploma.

H.

Completion Dates

Preliminary Steps

Midway Steps

Later Steps

Follow Up

Choose and research

organizations, Contact
Organization, Find a
venue and a date,
Confirm
representatives of the
organization can
come, create the
agenda for the event
Write a speech, Give
speech to my church
congregation, Create
drop off boxes for
church and school,
make posters and
flyers to promote
event, confirm agenda
for the event
Pick up food for the
event, confirm whos
coming, pick up items
from various drop off
boxes, host the event
Clean up after the
event, Collect all the

January 25, 2016

February 20-21,
2016

March 19,2016

April 8, 2016

donations, sort the

items in piles
according to age
group and gender,
collect materials for
the packages, make
the packages, write
Thank You notes to
everyone who helped
me out, bring the
finished packages to
the organization

I. Facilities Impact form

N/A