Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation

The mission of Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation is to create opportunities to build self-esteem and empower children and youth in foster care by funding services to enrich their life experiences and ensure their successful transition to adulthood.

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 assists 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 its post-secondary students 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 education and 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.

Testimonials

Aaliyah is so excited about being able to go to dance classes. With your grant, you have made a 5-year-old girl so happy! Her dreams of dancing would not be possible without you! - Jane, foster parent

Keys to Success is life-changing not just because of the resources they offer, but also because of the time, the energy and the motivation they give to us kids in foster care. - Tysheria

I am a mom who works full-time, goes to school full time and receives no help with my son. When I found out about AFFCF, it was a blessing to know there are caring individuals who help people like me who aged out of foster care and are now going to college. Thank you for helping with my security deposit so I can stay in school and earn my degree." - Mercedes

I am so thankful that I was accepted for the AFFCF scholarship! You guys have no idea how much this scholarship is going to help me out financially and educationally. I can now focus on school and supporting my 9-month-old daughter. I am so grateful for all you guys do for me. Thank you so much! I promise to keep doing great and to never give up. I am so close to the finish line and this made it even better so I don't have to worry about getting a job quite yet...