OUR WHY
The Waylon’s World mission is focused on normalizing a nontraditional family experience.
It’s 2024 - families come in all shapes and sizes and we want kiddos to understand that!
It’s not always about who you start your journey with…
A loving family can be made up of the people (and pups!) who enter your life along the way.
Waylon’s World gives back to children experiencing foster care.
On any given day there are approximately 437,500 children in foster care in the United States.
$5 from every purchase made in January will support CASA of Cook County.
CASA of Cook County believes that foster care should be temporary - not a way of life and we agree!
The mission of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County is to advance foster care child advocacy for children in Cook County by ensuring that their needs are met and rights are protected; by transitioning out of foster care into permanent, safe, and loving homes as quickly as possible; and that youth aging out of foster care have the resources and support they need to live independently.
Waylon’s World founder, Giovanna Ventola, has completed her training and will be sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for youth experiencing foster care in Cook County this month! She is eager to work on cases where she will have a direct impact on a child’s wellbeing and experience in the system. Waylon is excited to give back to a cause in our community!
CHARITY PARTNERS
DID YOU KNOW
Did you know that oftentimes when young children enter the foster care system, adults use stories of rescue animals to demonstrate the realities of what might be ahead for them? It makes the details more approachable and easier to imagine for the little one.
In the book, we follow Waylon’s journey from his first family to his forever home and learn about everything he encounters along the way. From making friends to meeting strange adults, his story draws a parallel to the many things children in foster care may experience before meeting their forever family. We use Waylon’s homecoming story to inspire dignity and hope to children entering the system. We strive to show children that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
"You could have taken this dog away and added a little girl or a little boy that has gone into foster care and that is experiencing foster care and it could have been the same exact book.”
- Rob Scheer, Founder & CEO of Comfort Cases
BREAKING IT DOWN
5 parallels between the experiences of rescue dogs and children experiencing foster care…
Resilience: Both rescue dogs and children in foster care demonstrate remarkable resilience in overcoming challenges and adapting to new environments.
Trust: Just as rescue dogs may struggle with trust due to past experiences, children who were removed from their home and placed in the system may exhibit similar challenges. This highlights the importance of patience and building secure attachments.
Second Chances: Both are given the opportunity for a better life which emphasizes the transformative power of love, care, and support.
Bravery: Adaptation shows the significance of flexibility and coping mechanisms in the face of change.
Healing Through Connection: The healing process for both rescue dogs and children in foster care involves forming positive connections with caring individuals emphasizing the impact of supportive relationships on their well-being.