For Immediate Release: August 19, 2002
Partnering with Foster Families program begins in Anchorage
DHSS working with Anchorage faith community through Anchorage Youth For Christ
The Dept. of Heath and Social Services (DHSS) recently signed an agreement with a faith-based organization to provide increased care and support for children in foster care and help DHSS Division of Family and Youth Services social workers with their heavy case load. “Developing the ‘Partnering with Foster Families’ with the Anchorage Youth for Christ is an important step in helping Alaskan families,” Commissioner Jay Livey said. “Anchorage Youth for Christ members will mentor children and teenagers in life skills as they transition out of foster care.”
Statistically, Alaska has the highest rate of child abuse and neglect in the US. Each social worker in the Alaska Division of Family and Youth Services carries an average caseload of 21 per social worker (on a statewide average), compared to a caseload of 12 per social worker recommended by the Child Welfare League of America national standard. Some social workers in the Anchorage and MatSu office carry average caseloads as high as 28 to 32.
“A high caseload makes it harder for FYS social workers to give Foster parents, birth parents, and especially children in foster care all the services we would like to provide,” Livey said. “The successful Adopt-A-Caseworker program used in Texas provides an essential support system for caseworkers by matching each one with a local organization such as a church, school group, or business. I think that can work here in Alaska.”
"Our program is modeled after two successful programs in California and Texas, and AYFC is excited about utilizing its 'Partnering with Foster Families' program to help educate and connect the community to the needs of foster children," said Dave Mahlum, AYFC Executive Director. “Connecting DFYS social workers and foster families with volunteer support will have a dramatic impact on the children involved in foster care.”
The “Partner” support program can take various forms including donations earmarked for a foster child’s specific needs, emotional support during high stress times, basic transportation assistance, overseeing appointments and medical visits, connecting families with other community agencies, teaching and modeling appropriate behavior to children through a life skills approach, acting as mediator for children in mild conflicts preventing escalation, “shadowing” a child in school to ensure timely attendance, helping with homework assignments and generally acting as a support when requested by the social worker and/or foster family.
“Partnering with Foster Families” will also offer pre-licensing help for foster parents as well as coordinate faith-based group support for interested families. In this new program, AYFC will draw on the experience of other Youth for Christ chapters also working with the foster care system.
Other online information:
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Anchorage Youth for Christ, brief history
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Greater Texas Community Partners, including Adopt-A-Caseworker program
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ChildSHARE, California, finding families for children through local congregations
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Ross Soboleff
Public Information Officer III
Dept. of Health & Social Services, State of Alaska
email: ross_soboleff@health.state.ak.us
Direct (907) 465-1611
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