Causes: Children & Youth, Foster Care, Unknown

Mission: To strengthen youth and families through high quality preventative, support services and transition services.

Programs: The following services were provided in furtherance of the organization's mission: voluntary case management to prevent families from becoming involved in the child welfare system; services for foster youth transitioning to adulthood; resource family support services including a warm line, monthly support groups, training for resource families, respite; and enhancements for foster children that include education, athletics, sports, dance, special events, travel and special projects; hosted one large-scale annual event for foster children and their families (2,000 individuals) to honor children in foster care and serve as a thank you to families who welcome foster children into their homes; through use of community volunteers, coordinated visits between siblings who are separated in the foster care system; guided high school seniors in foster care in preparing for and entering post-secondary education or vocational training; provided safety to children removed from their parents for alleged abuse and neglect; provided recruitment of adoptive families for children in long-term foster care; recruited and trained volunteer mentors to assist youth transition out of foster care; provided group services to foster youth to help prevent substance abuse, hiv/aids, std's and other risky behavior; improved the quality of foster care by empowering families through information, skills and support utilizing a resource family organization. Provided prevention, support and transition services to children and families with an emphasis on children at risk. Served approximately 4,000 persons.