FAMILIES
STRENGTHEN
REDUCING TRAUMA AND BUILDING HOPE FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY FOSTER CARE
Family Support Services includes:
-
Quality and meaningful family contact for children and their families
-
School supplies and other tangible resources for children in foster care
-
Training for best practices in family contact
-
Engaging the church to meet needs and build relationships
-
Foster Parent support groups
-
Child Welfare Worker appreciation for staff retention
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAMS
Providing supervised family contact by OCS referral
Providing a home-like setting for family contact with a caseworker-approved facilitator
Providing training on Family Contact Best Practices for professionals, foster parents and volunteers
Connecting family needs with caring community members
FOSTER CARE IN ALASKA
Children in Alaska are twice as likely to end up in foster care as the rest of the nation. (1)
There are 2800 children in state custody in Alaska, and without support, these children face hard odds…
-
Only 50% of former foster youth report completing high school. (2)
-
Foster youth experience increased homelessness, incarceration, and substance use and abuse. (3)
-
Alaska is experiencing a foster home shortage crisis.
-
Foster homes are closing their license due to a lack of support
Yet, together we can reduce trauma and build hope through family contact, community connection, and supports!
References
(1) Stott, Tania. “Child and Adolescence Social Work Journal. Springer Science Business Media LLC (2012) 29:61-83
(2) Yates, Tuppett M. and Grey, Izabela K. “Adapting to aging out: Profiles of risk and resilience among emancipated foster youth” Development and Psychopathology (2012), 475-492
(3 )Stott, Tania. “Child and Adolescence Social Work Journal. Springer Science Business Media LLC (2012) 29:61-83