ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation creates opportunities to build self-esteem and empower children and youth in foster care by funding social, athletic and educational activities and services to enrich their life experiences and ensure their successful transition to adulthood.
About This Cause
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF) was founded in 1984 by four former members of the AZ Foster Care Review Board who witnessed firsthand the gaps left by state foster care benefits. Forty years later, AFFCF continues to offer critical support services to children and youth in foster care through its three impact areas: Childhood Activities, Keys to Success, and Post-Secondary programming. 1. Childhood Activities AFFCF's was founded to address notable gaps in services for children and youth in foster care that the state's daily foster care allowance would not support or cover. Today, this daily rate is $19 per child or youth in foster care. AFFCF provides direct funding support for a variety of extracurricular, childhood activities that every youth should have the opportunity to experience. This includes funding for sports registration, summer camps, music and dance lessons, sports equipment, academic tutoring, supplemental clothing, graduation expenses, and so much more. These activities are instrumental in building positive self-esteem, confidence and resiliency of children and youth in foster care. 2. Keys to Success (KTS) Established in 2014, KTS is a human centered and comprehensive employment, education, and career development program for youth ages 16 - 26 "aging out" or exiting foster care in Maricopa, Pima, and Yavapai counties. This intensive, case management program equips youth with the skills and tools needed to gain self-sufficiency and transition successfully to independence. This is accomplished by working with youth "where they are at" in their foster care journey and supporting their efforts to develop a baseline of employment, education, and career development skills that empower them to achieve long-term success, stability, and self-reliance. Financial literacy education, emergency housing assistance, and community resource navigation are additional components of the Keys to Success program that have proven highly effective in eliminating barriers that allow youth to remain focused on achieving their employment and education goals. 3. Post-Secondary Programs These programs assist youth in foster care who are pursing post-secondary education or vocational training in a variety of trades. While many youth in foster care are eligible to receive tuition-based assistance to any Arizona college or university, it typically does not cover the costs of room and board, books, laptops, and fees which can equal the total cost of tuition, thereby creating a significant financial barrier to education. And not all education and trade certification programs qualify for federal tuition assistance, leaving the added burden on these students. AFFCF provides scholarship funding to assist with a variety of post-secondary educational expenses including, but not limited to, tuition assistance and living expenses to help offset gaps in funding. Additionally, AFFCF's Focus Forward Fund provides timely financial support to foster youth for those unexpected life expenses or emergencies (car repairs, rental assistance, food, etc.) that can easily derail a youth in their educational journey, allowing them instead, to focus forward on completing their post-secondary or vocational education goals. With only 3% of students with foster care backgrounds completing post-secondary education, this program seeks to eliminate the barriers that keep post secondary attainment out of reach for so many youth in foster care. Today, with approximately 10,000 children and youth in foster care, and 800+ youth exiting Arizona's foster care system each year, our work has never been more critical. Support from the community helps AFFCF change the story of foster care for children and youth across Arizona, from infants to young adults. We do this by creating transformational opportunities that build confidence and resiliency for children and youth in foster care, and by providing evidenced based support services that foster youth self-reliance and long-term success.