Foster Care Awareness Month

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors issued proclamations to recognize three significant, annual occasions that are central to the work of Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA). These included CalFresh Awareness Month, Foster Care Awareness Month, and Older Americans Month.

In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, ACFPA has launched a Fundraising Campaign to raise funds for our Scholarship program.

ACFPA scholarships supplement the cost of enrichment and academic activities for kids in care. They can also be used to help older kids with expenses related to college or trade school. Kids who have been awarded ACFPA scholarships have enjoyed summer and winter camps, swim lessons, gymnastics classes, choir, dance, soccer, martial arts, as well as tutoring for academic support.

Extracurricular activities are beneficial for all kids but they are critical for foster kids. According to the Youth Law Center, extracurricular activities can ensure healthy development by building resilience, improving self-efficacy, developing a positive self-identity and counteracting the harmful effects of trauma. Additionally, they can promote positive relationships, leading to improved placement stability.

If you are a caregiver, please consider applying for a scholarship to support the kids in your care.

Foster Family Support Town Hall

The following article was published in the Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA) newsletter dated May 16, 2024.

Board of Supervisor David Haubert (District 1) hosted a Foster Family Support Town Hall on May 8, 2024 in Livermore. Supervisor Haubert’s goal is that every foster parent have four people to provide support to them while they are caring for Alameda County’s foster youth. This support can come in a variety of ways: someone to talk to you, encourage you, provide respite, cook a meal, etc.

Present at the Town Hall were a number of foster family agencies and groups that support foster parents. Children and Family Services staff, Division Director Mia Buckner-Preston, Program Manager Jef Samp, and Recruiter Felicia Brown-Goins presented on “How to Become a Resource Family Caregiver.” 

Alameda County’s Foster Parent Association was represented by President Gwen McWilliams and Vice President Charles Bracey. People in the audience felt encouraged to either become a foster parent or lend support in some way.

Why Support the ACFPA Scholarships?

From its re-launch in late 2016 through 2023, ACFPA’s scholarship fund has awarded over $35,000 to 146 Alameda County families to supplement the cost of enrichment and academic activities for kids in care. Kids who were awarded scholarships have enjoyed summer and winter camps, swim lessons, gymnastics classes, choir, dance, soccer, martial arts and have used the scholarships to pay for tutoring for academic support.

There is no doubt that extracurricular activities are beneficial for all kids but they are critical for foster kids. According to the Youth Law Center, extracurricular activities can ensure healthy development by building resilience, improving self-efficacy, developing a positive self-identity and counteracting the harmful effects of trauma. Additionally, they can promote positive relationships, leading to improved placement stability.

Since cost can be a barrier to participating in these activities, the ACFPA scholarships are a good resource for caregivers. Please visit our Fundraising page and help ACFPA grow its scholarship programs and reach more kids and families.

Donate

If you are an ACFPA member/caregiver, please consider taking advantage of the ACFPA scholarship program to support the kids in your care. It is easy to apply and this step by step checklist can walk you through the process.