Guest Commentary | Every child deserves more than just the basics
By SOPHIA FOX
When we talk about supporting children in foster care, the conversation often focuses on the essentials: school supplies, clothes, and food. These are, of course, critical needs. But what’s often overlooked is just as vital to a child’s growth and healing — their social and emotional well-being.
Research is clear on this point. The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that consistent, supportive relationships are one of the strongest predictors of resilience for children who’ve experienced trauma. Similarly, Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child emphasizes that positive social interactions, what they call “serve and return” relationships, are essential to healthy brain development. Yet in traditional foster care support systems, these types of experiences are not always prioritized.
At HALO (Helping And Leading Others), we believe that children in foster care deserve more than survival, they deserve joy, connection, and belonging. That’s why, in partnership with the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida, HALO creates opportunities for foster children to participate in fun, enriching activities that let them simply be kids.
From trampoline parks like Sky Zone and Defy to hands-on exploration at the IMAG History & Science Center, our events give children moments of laughter, discovery, and connection. But the activities themselves are only part of the story. What makes HALO unique is the mentorship and friendship our high school members provide by pairing with foster children. These relationships help build confidence, spark trust, and give children a sense that they are seen, valued, and cared for.
Annie E. Casey Foundation has reported that foster children who experience stable relationships and opportunities for social connection have better long-term outcomes in school, employment, and mental health. In other words, joy and belonging are not “extras”-they are essential to building resilience and success.
It may seem simple, a day at a trampoline park, a mentor’s encouragement, a moment of laughter. But for a foster child, these experiences can mean the difference between isolation and connection, between hopelessness and resilience.
I wanted to start HALO in 2023 because of the positive impact we could create for local kids and their families. Our communities are in need of additional resources that only a group like HALO can provide, while offering high school students a chance to make a real difference in a child’s life.
At HALO, our mission is to remind these children that they are worthy of joy and that their lives can be filled with love and possibility. Because every child deserves more than just the basics.
Sophia Fox, a senior at Fort Myers High School, founded HALO (Helping and Leading Others) in 2023. The student-led organization is committed to connecting children in foster care with high school students for fun and kid-led events.