CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY OF ALABAMA PROGRAMS: MAKING A DIFFERENCE ONE CHILD AT A TIME

Make a Difference to Children Month has been recognized since the year 2006, at Children's Aid Society of Alabama, we are constantly reminded of the incredible impact that individuals and organizations have on the lives of children. Further, we are proud to be at the forefront of making a difference in the lives of children throughout our state for 112 years. With seven comprehensive programs and services, we strive to empower and uplift Alabama's youth, ensuring they have every opportunity to thrive and succeed. Strengthening families and our children also strengthens our state and supports our long-term growth and success. Family preservation and reunification are fundamental elements of strengthening families. EPIC provides free parenting courses to both English and Spanish-speaking parents, improving family communication skills, helping children learn through natural and logical consequences and so much more. Project Independence, (PI) steps in and provides temporary housing, mentorship, career, and life skills to help pregnant and parenting teen mothers avoid homelessness and keep their families together. Family Partners works directly with Alabama DHR to help provide the education, resources, and support needed for families to reunify with their children when they have been placed in foster care. In some cases, their direct intervention helps families remain together before a separation occurs.

A commitment to providing stable and nurturing care for children who have experienced adversity is at the heart of our mission. Reunification is the primary goal of foster care, however for over 200 children in Alabama, reunification efforts have ceased and birth parents have relinquished custody of their children. Alabama Pre and Post Adoption Connections, (APAC) helps our waiting children find their forever family homes and provides free lifetime support; offering counseling, support groups, and training opportunities as well as summer camp, family outings, and an expansive adoption-focused library.?

Independent Living, (IL) recognizes that our teens in foster care are at a pivotal point in their lives. Building a sense of belonging, encouraging our 14 - 21-year-old youth to pursue their dreams and plan for their futures. Connecting youth to educational and career training opportunities, and empowering them by building foundational life skills is a charge our IL team takes on each day. Most IL team members have lived experience in foster care, which builds meaningful connections and informs our practices. IL mentors and helps advocate for youth in care alongside our DREAM Ambassadors. DREAM Ambassadors are youth representatives in foster care from counties across Alabama, who exhibit leadership qualities and have been selected through an extensive application and interview process. IL hosts monthly regional DREAM Council meetings, an annual Graduation Celebration, and they host two summer camps, called CAMP LIFE to encourage connection, build self-confidence, and provide a sense of normalcy.

Child Trafficking Solutions Project, (CTSP) joined CAS just last year. They have taken on the incredible task of bringing awareness to communities and organizations about child trafficking to aid in prevention. Additionally, CTSP works to recognize, rescue, and restore survivors of sex trafficking and other forms of exploitation. As online recruitment of children increases, and particularly vulnerable children such as our youth in foster care are targeted, this program is needed now more than ever.

Make a Difference to Children Month highlights our collective power to transform lives. We invite you to explore our programs and join us in our efforts. John Stone joined CAS as Director of Advancement this year. Together, he and our CEO, Gayle Watts renewed the agency's commitment to advocate for the rights and well-being of all children. Thus, CAS is actively engaging in public policy efforts, striving to improve the lives of vulnerable youth and amplify their voices.

We will continue to call on you, our community of care to raise awareness by sharing social media posts and promoting understanding. Please consider reaching out to our Project Independence team and serving as a mentor. Keep in touch, and work with us when we send out our annual call for summer camp staff. Donate to our annual Grad Bag Campaign, to support our youth in foster care as they graduate and begin writing the next chapter of their beautiful life stories. Encourage friends and family members to consider adopting one of Alabama's waiting children, and reach out to APAC for trusted support along every step of the adoption journey. Let us recognize the immense potential within each child and the responsibility we share to uplift and empower them. Children's Aid Society of Alabama is honored to be a catalyst for positive change, providing programs and services that make a lasting impact on the lives of Alabama's youth. Together, let's continue to make a difference, one child at a time.