November 2022 Issue 56

November is National Adoption Month

National Adoption Month is an initiative of the Children's Bureau that seeks to increase national awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the U.S. foster care system, and emphasize the value of youth engagement. In recent years, efforts have been focused on adoption for teens, because we know that teens in foster care wait longer for permanency than younger children and are at higher risk of aging out without permanency. Teens need love, support, and a sense of belonging that families can provide. Securing lifelong connections for these teens, both legally and emotionally, is a critical component in determining their future achievement, health, and well-being.

This year's National Adoption Month theme is "Small Steps Open Doors." Pursuing permanency for teens can be challenging, but small steps along the way can make all the difference. Taking the time to talk with and listen to youth can help you earn their trust and help the youth become more engaged in their own permanency planning. It can also create an environment where youth can be honest and ask questions. Youth are the experts of their own lives, so let them partner with you in permanency planning and make decisions about their lives.

• Permanency Planning With Youth
• Engagement Resources
• Relationship-Building Tools
• Small Steps Open Doors Webinar

Reminder: Social Security Number Requests

Tax season is coming up quicker than any of us want it to, so start preparing now! Ask the DCS Specialist for the social security numbers of the children in your care to ensure that you have the information before taxes are due!

Per DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6: If requested for a lawful purpose, the Department shall provide a foster parent or kinship caregiver with the social security number of a child in the foster parent’s or kinship caregiver’s care within 90 days of the foster parent’s or kinship caregiver’s request (verbal or written).

If a child does not currently have a SSN assigned, the request to have one assigned by the Social Security Administration can take around 60 days. However, if the child also does not have a birth certificate, that will need to be requested and received before the SSN request can be submitted. An in-state birth certificate should only take about 30 days to process and receive, unless the child was not born in a hospital or is a foundling. That process can take much longer, depending on the information that is available. The timeframe for out-of-state birth certificate requests varies by state and can take several months.

Per DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6: Within 30 days of the child entering out-of-home care, the Department shall request a birth certificate for a child who is in the custody of the Department and in out-of-home care, unless the child is returned to the custody of the child’s parent within that 30-day period.

If you have requested the social security number and have not received it within 60 days of the initial request, please follow up with the DCS Specialist. If the process is not moving along as it should and you feel the need to elevate the issue, please follow the Complaint Management Procedure as outlined in DCS Policy Chapter 7: Section 17: Complaints should be resolved among those most familiar with the situation and who have the ability to resolve the complaint. Case-related complaints should be first addressed with the DCS Specialist and may be elevated to the DCS Specialist's Supervisor if not satisfactorily resolved. After attempting to resolve the complaint with the DCS Program Supervisor, the complainant may elevate the concern to the Program Manager. After attempting to resolve the complaint with the Program Manager, the complainant may elevate the concern to the Office of the Ombudsman through the Online complaint form (www.azdcs.gov), by telephone (602-364-0777 or toll-free at 877-527-0765), or by email Ombudsman@azdcs.gov. If you need the contact information for the DCS Specialist or Supervisor, it is listed in Guardian under your Service Approvals. Warmline can also assist in providing the information or facilitating communication: 877-543-7633 option 3.

Grocery Bill Solutions

Inflation has hit housing, gas, and now food prices. We can't solve the first two, but here are some resources to help out with the skyrocketing cost of food.

WIC - Remember, children under the age of 5 who are in DCS care qualify for WIC benefits. Just take the child and the Notice to Provider to any WIC location. A portion of WIC funds can be used at farmers markets. The program is seasonal and will reopen on 2/1/23.

TANF - Unlicensed kinship families qualify for cash assistance (which can be used for food and other expenses). Children in DCS care are considered a separate household, so the caregiver's household income is not considered. This application must go through the DCS Specialist, otherwise it will be based on the full household income and may be denied.

Produce on Wheels Without Waste - Borderlands, a local organization, rescues produce from distributors that would have sent the food to the landfill otherwise. For just $15, you can get up to 70 lbs of fresh produce! The options change each week, so meals will never get boring. If 70lbs is too much, pair up with another family and split it or give some to a family that you know could use it, perhaps the bio family. Or learn to can, pickle, or make jam! Statewide locations!

Market on the Move - Similar to Produce on Wheels, your donation of $10-15 gets you up to 60 lbs of produce and dry, canned, or packaged goods. The items are often overstock, over- or undersized, too ripe, etc. They often have household items at discounted prices. The available items are posted on their Facebook page each week. Locations in Phoenix and Tucson!

Food banks and pantries- There are locations throughout Arizona that provide food to families in need. Arizona Food Bank Network is an excellent resources for food banks statewide. FreeFood.org has a great list of food pantries and food banks that is broken down by city.

Arizona 211 - This is an amazing resource to find anything you could possibly need! Under the "food" category, they have information on food co-ops, grocery delivery from food pantries, food vouchers, and more!

Holiday Travel Guidelines

With several holidays coming up in the next few months, here is a reminder of the DCS Travel Guidelines, per the DCS Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard.

• Bio parent permission is NOT needed for any sort of travel. It is best practice and common courtesy to let them know about travel plans. If they wish to do so, they can file a motion with the court to object to it, but it is not in DCS policy or Arizona law that their permission is needed.
• Bear in mind that you do NOT need DCS Specialist permission for in-state or out-of-state travel of less than 7 days. You simply need to inform them of the plan and how you can be contacted. 24-48 hours should be sufficient notice. NOTE: If there are court-ordered services, such as parenting time/visitation, that will be affected by this travel, you WILL need DCS Specialist permission.
• The DCS Specialist can deny out-of-state travel of more than 7 days, however the only major considerations should be if the child has medical needs (i.e. they need regular medical treatments that they would not be able to get while out of state) or if there is court-ordered visitation (not the standard visitation that DCS is required to provide, as those visits can be made up. In this case, court-ordered means that DCS has been specifically ordered by the court to ensure that the child is at the visitation.). There may be other issues at play, but they should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• If you wish to travel out of the country with the child (including cruises where the child does not leave the ship), you will need permission of the court and a passport for the child. First, notify the DCS Specialist as soon as you know the dates and destination. They will file a Motion for Out of Country Travel, which is what will grant you permission to take the child. They will also file a Motion to Apply for a Passport. It must have the caregiver's name listed as the person who will be granted permission to apply for the passport, otherwise it defaults to DCS. This motion should be filed at least 30 days ahead of travel, however the more lead time, the less stress it will be, so inform the Specialist as soon as you know the dates/destination. In addition to this court order, you will need a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, which the DCS Specialist can request, if it is not already in the file. You can also request a certified copy by taking the Notice to Provider to Vital Records, however you will have to pay the fee for the birth certificate, which is not reimbursable. You will need to take original, certified copies of both the order and the birth certificate to the passport office. The child must have either a passport or passport card, depending on your method of travel. This is a US Department of Homeland Security requirement, confirmed as of 9/19/22. Be sure to save your receipt and request passport reimbursement through the DCS Specialist. NOTE: DCS will not reimburse for an expedited passport fee, so please allow enough time to complete all tasks in a timely manner. According to the US Department of State website, the current processing time is 7-10 weeks. You should also purchase travel medical insurance for the child, as their Mercy Care DCS CHP coverage is not valid outside of the United States. Although it is not required, it is preferred. Again, this a non-reimbursable expense. Please do not risk traveling out of the country without ALL of these items completed. It is not a quick or convenient process, however it is what is required for the safety and well-being of the child in your care.
• If you experience challenges with the RPPS Guidelines, attempt to elevate the issue through the DCS Program Supervisor then the DCS Program Manager. Contact information is in Guardian under your Service Approvals. If you need assistance with locating contact information or facilitating communication, reach out to Rhiannon Schaudt-Hobkirk. You can also follow the DCS Complaint Management Policy in Chapter 7: Section 17.

Foster Care Myths - Busted!

The AZ KIDS Consortium has created a series of videos that "bust" some of the most prevalent myths about foster care. New videos will be posted each Friday for the next several months. Please share these videos with family, friends, community members, potential foster parents, etc.

Therapeutic Foster Care Info Sessions

Dear Caregivers,

We thank you for your ongoing commitment and support to the children and families you support in our community. We are writing today to discuss a growing need in our community to support more children in a family setting. There are opportunities to support children in need by being a Therapeutic Foster Caregiver. We believe that many community caregivers have the skills and experience needed to be successful serving children with higher therapeutic needs. Children in therapeutic foster care need consistent and stable caregivers with behavioral health experience and skills in order to help them on the path to succeed in their next family environment.

We would like to invite you to attend a virtual information session with the agencies that support Therapeutic Foster Care, to help share information regarding the licensing experiences and differences from community care. These information sessions will review specific guidelines and requirements for becoming a Therapeutic Foster Caregiver. We hope that you will consider attending to learn more and see if this is something that you and your family might be interested in pursuing. If it is not right for you, consider that you may know someone who is a good fit. If so, please recommend this opportunity to them.

Virtual Information Sessions:

• Every 2nd Thursday of the month (6pm)
• Every 4th Saturday of the month (10am)

Thank you so much for your time and dedication to children and families in need.

Sincerely, Gillian Vanasse, Assistant Director for Foster Care Supports

Trauma Responsive Opioid Reduction Training

In response to the new requirement that all foster parents with children ages 12 and over are required to be trained in naloxone administration, AZAFAP is offering an online training in partnership with Skye’s the Limit Foundation and Asylum Advocates! All foster, adoptive, and kinship parents are welcome to attend. Upon completion, all participants will receive a completion certificate and naloxone product that can be picked up. Included in this training is an overview of the fentanyl problem and opiate harm reduction in general.

• Thursday, November 3, 7-9 pm
• Saturday, November 12, 10am-12pm
• Saturday, November 26, 10am-12pm

Foster Family Weekend Experience

TBRI 101 Class

Are you a foster/adoptive parent, teacher, mentor, or CASA or just interested in how to better care for and connect with children from hard places? Whatever your role in caring for at-risk children, we’d like to invite you to register for TBRI 101!

This class is a 3-hour introduction to Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). TBRI is an attachment based, trauma-informed approach designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children.

Through the key principles of TBRI, participants will leave this training with a better understanding of why “kids from hard places” need a different approach to help them heal and thrive, as well as provide caregivers with practical strategies to help children with challenging behavior.

MayFly Project

AZ Families Thrive Read Along

If you are looking to enhance your foster care knowledge and skills, read along with us each month by joining our Facebook group! The group is by invitation only and is limited to newsletter subscribers. Membership requests will be verified. Discussion starters will be posted each Monday, however group members can post additional questions or comments at any time. Healthy discourse is encouraged, but members should be mindful of the sensitive nature of the topics, as well as privacy and confidentiality. The group is a safe place for all members and the families we serve, so content will be closely monitored. We look forward to learning with you!

The November book will be On Their Own by Martha Shirk and Gary Stangler.

Free Arts Family Nights

Free Arts would like to welcome foster and kinship families for a night of community connection. Kick off the month with an art project, dinner, and quality time together. Learn more about Free Arts programs for foster families. Pizza and salad are included, and the whole family is invited!

Click this link to register for one or more of these monthly Monday night events: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-arts-family-night-tickets-428691366417

For more information, please contact Erina Sanchez by emailing esanchez@freearts.org or calling (602) 258-8100, ext. 920.

Mercy Care Events

November - No CFAP Meeting

December 7 - 6:00-7:30pm - Parent/Caregiver Self-Care Training and Resources - This is an informative training on how we as parents can take care of ourselves. Resources will be provided for supports to allow parents and caregivers support when needed. Open discussion around services and resources will conclude the training. Register here.

CPR/1st Aid and Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation Trainings

Casa de los Ninos is offering in-person/online hybrid CPR/1st Aid traning and an Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Awareness training (DDD-required for CDH-licensed homes) for just $35 per person.

CPR/1st Aid

• Saturday, November 5, 9-12pm
• Saturday, December 3, 9-12pm

CPLC Training Classes

Chicanos Por La Causa is offering a free class for tweens/teens ages 11 - 18, as well as a parenting class for their caregivers.

Our teen class goes by the name of "Sowing Seeds" and centers around drug abuse prevention education. The curriculum we use in the class is research-based and is called Project TND (Toward No Drug Abuse). We know that this topic is not one of the "fun" topics to cover, but we aim to keep conversations very open and honest in a judgment-free zone.

Our parenting class is facilitated by Pam Campbell, who is a certified trainer of trainers of the "Active Parenting of Teens" curriculum. Pam takes a trauma-informed care approach to facilitating these classes. The focus of the class overall is to strengthen the bonds between caregivers and their youth by going over different parenting styles, demonstrating effective communication, and learning about how to have talks with their children about sexuality and substance abuse prevention.

CPLC Parenting Arizona does provide all course materials. At the end of all 6 sessions, participants earn a "Family Toolkit" that comes with journals, pencils, a medical lockbox, a "How Well Do You Know Me" game, and other useful things for families to practice what they learned in class. We also do provide a certificate of completion to caregivers that lists 12 hours of class time completed. Parenting classes are open to Foster/Kinship/Adoptive parents and also to professionals who work with foster/kinship/adoptive youth.

Scheduling varies by need, so please reach out to Ashley Avila for more information.

Foster Arizona

Foster Arizona is providing some much-needed resources for kinship and foster families. Families can request First Night Essentials for new placements, as well as Back-to-School supplies.

First Night Essential Items

Are you in immediate need of some items for a child that has been recently placed in your home? Please fill out our request form. Be specific and add links, if the items are available online.

Current Notice To Provider is required for each child needing support. Also, the child must have been placed in your home within the last 10 days. Please fill out one form per child. Requests will be met as funding allows. You will be notified if/when the request is fulfilled. Kinship families will receive priority.

To request First Night Essentials, click this link: https://forms.gle/x8SgwYe7sn5M8LQq8.

Back-to-School Items

Are you in need of items for your child’s education, or items that will allow him or her to experience normalization in their schooling? Please fill out our request form. Be specific and add links if the items are available online. Also, upload any school supporting documents, if the request is a school fee.

Current Notice to Provider is required for each child needing support. Please fill out one form per child. Requests will be met as funding allows. You will be notified if/when the request is fulfilled. Kinship families will receive priority.

To request Back-to-School Items, click this link: https://forms.gle/YQXFcmB58dhP25CN8

Love Your Texture - African American Hair Care

Love Your Texture is an organization that answers questions and educates foster caregivers on hair products and styling all textures of hair. The organization is eligible for funding through Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (under Ethnic Hair Care).

Boys & Girls Club

Foster Ed

Advocacy31nine

Are you a caregiver of a student in foster care? Do you need support navigating the special education system to get help for your student? Does your student have difficulty at school or exhibit behaviors that have a negative impact at school?

Advocacy31nine provides educational advocates at no cost for students impacted by foster care, kinship, or adoption in Arizona. Our trained advocates help you navigate the confusing maze of special education and help students get the support they need to THRIVE!

one-n-ten Support Groups

one-n-ten provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to connect with others, engage in fun, empowering programs, and get resources to be their best self. They also offer a monthly Parents' Group that is open to parents, teachers, counselors, or other trusted adults to ask questions about one-n-ten programs and services and how to best support their LGBTQ+ youth. For questions about Parents' Group, contact Gina at 602-279-0894 or gina@onenten.org

Arizona Grandparent Ambassadors

We are a statewide support and legislative advocacy network of, by and for grandparents raising grandchildren and non-parent caregivers raising children. We are the families who give these children safe, stable homes and keep them out of the foster care system. Join us as we work with legislators and policymakers to create positive changes for our families. Check out our website for information and resources, including parenting classes, respite services, support groups, therapy and parenting help, and more!

Raising Special Kids

Raising Special Kids began in 1979 as a grassroots effort of families, professionals, and community leaders determined to provide support and information for parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. Today, Raising Special Kids serves as Arizona’s Family-to-Family Health Information Center, and as Arizona’s Parent Training and Information Center. Helping parents access information about health care, community resources, and support services so they can make informed decisions regarding their children’s care has been our mission from the beginning. We support thousands of Arizona families each year through our programs and services.

Raising Special Kids provides programs and services at no cost to families. No eligibility determinations are required. Any parent or family member of a child with a disability can take advantage of services provided in English, Spanish, and other languages.

• Individual Consultation - Our staff of Family Support Specialists is comprised of parents and family members of children with disabilities who can relate to the challenges facing parents and family members who call for support. Our staff receives ongoing training on Federal and State programs, as well as community-based programs and resources, available to individuals with disabilities and special health care needs. We provide families with support for the full spectrum of issues a family may encounter from birth through age 26, and sometimes beyond. Raising Special Kids staff specializes in information and training in the areas of Education, Health Care, Behavior Support, and Transition to Adulthood. Families who contact us or are referred for individual consultation will receive: a call from one of our Family Support Specialists by the end of the following business day; compassion and understanding from our staff of professional, experienced, fellow parents or family members of a child with a disability; information, resources, problem-solving support, and strategies to help parents access and advocate for the support their child needs.
• Parent-to-Parent support has always been the heart of Raising Special Kids. Each year, more than 300 families in Arizona are connected with veteran “mentor” parents who have walked a similar path and who understand the challenges of raising a child with a disability or special health care need.
• Raising Special Kids’ Positive Family Coaching (PFC) program provides enhanced support to families of children receiving behavioral health services through AHCCCS. Through the child’s Child & Family Team (CFT), Raising Special Kids can provide support with education, health care system navigation, development of effective advocacy skills, and strategies for positive behavior support. Currently, Raising Special Kids PFC program is only available to families of children with Mercy Care and United Healthcare plans through AHCCCS, with more plans to come soon. If you have Mercy Care or United Healthcare and would like to receive Positive Family Coaching from Raising Special Kids, please contact your child’s case manager to request our Positive Family Coaching services. For more information, please call us at 602-242-4366.
• Events & Trainings - At this time, most events and trainings are being held virtually. Trainings/workshops include topics such as Talking to Your Child About Sexuality, Understanding 504, IEP Training, High School Transition, Early Childhood Education, Positive Behavior Support, and more.

Family Involvement Center Resources

For plenty of parents, teachers, and school staff, anxiety is running high as school is back to in-person learning, and COVID-19 cases are rising again. So we want to remind you that support is available right now. Our team is trained to help with recovering from the psychological effects caused by the pandemic. Thanks to our partnership with Resilient Arizona, you can receive confidential help at no cost in group or one-on-one settings. This includes for supportive crisis counseling, education and development of coping skills. Again, services are 100% free and confidential.

Resilient Arizona providers are located throughout Arizona. If you live in Northern Arizona, call (928) 440-6181. If you reside in Central Arizona, call (602) 704-0440. And if you live in Southern Arizona, please call (520) 485-5858.

The available support also includes assistance with finding food, paying house bills, accessing free childcare, and other essential services. You can also dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Arizona 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit www.ResilientArizona.org. Feel free to email us at pac@familyinvolvementcenter.org if you have any additional questions.

ASA Now

ASA Now is a non-profit organization that ADVOCATES for, SUPPORTS, and ASSISTS children and families impacted by foster care. We are passionate about providing support to families and professionals by restoring hope and empowering them to better serve these children in need.

Services we offer include tutoring & extracurricular activities, food pantry, clothing, and meeting basic necessities. Other services include life skills for youth, respite care, therapeutic programs, family activities, peer-to-peer support groups, education and training on utilizing Jacob's Law to obtain behavioral health services, providing resources to families and caregivers to successfully navigate the foster care system, raising awareness, recruiting new foster families, and advocating for families and their children.

Arizona Helping Hands

Arizona Helping Hands provides essential needs for children in foster care in an effort to help every foster child feel safe and loved. Our programs provide beds, clothing, hygiene items, birthday packages, backpacks filled with school supplies, licensing safety items, foster footlockers, and more. Our services are open to kinship and foster families with a current Notice to Provider.

After hearing stories of caseworkers driving over six hours to pick up items like beds, clothes, and birthday gifts, we have decided to open a second Arizona Helping Hands location in Flagstaff, Arizona. This northern location is our first step in expanding access to our services across the state. To receive assistance from our Flagstaff location, please contact Matt Lipan at mlipan@azhelpinghands.org to schedule an appointment.

Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents

AZAFAP wants to support you and the children in your family (foster, kinship, adopted, biological). We are a non-profit, statewide organization that serves families who adopt children and provide foster and kinship care. Working in partnership with child welfare professionals and the community, our purpose is to support, educate, empower and provide a unified voice for Arizona’s foster and adoptive families, with the goal of increasing the well-being and stability of Arizona’s most vulnerable children. AZAFAP’s programming is open to all foster, kinship, and adoptive families in Arizona. Basic membership is free and includes a subscription to our monthly newsletter with information and resources, our online support groups, and some of our training. Premier membership is available for an annual fee of $75 for two-parent families and a discounted rate of $50 for single-parent families. Premier members are eligible to participate in all program activities. Our programming includes Family Connections events like camps, picnics, and staycations, Family Support Services such as training, Children’s Basic Needs with new shoes, jackets, toys and bikes, and Community Awareness events. Join us today before the Family Camp registration opens! Visit www.azafap.org/membership for more information.

Sign up on our Event Calendar! If you aren’t a member yet, check out our free membership so you can sign up! Ever need adult conversation during the week? We also have weekly drop-in chats on the calendar on Tuesdays and Fridays!

Papa John's Partnership

Southwest Human Development Head Start

Southwest Human Development is offering Early Head Start and Head Start Programs. The in-person classes will be small to encourage physical distancing while being socially together. There will also be virtual programs that families can participate in from home. In-person groups will be limited to 8 children with 2 or 4 teachers, depending on the length of the program day.

For children under 3 years old, the Early Head Start program offers a 10-hour program for working families designed to provide a high-quality learning environment while encouraging physical distancing, as well as a virtual curriculum families can participate in from home.

The Head Start program has in-person, small group programs offering 10 hours, 6 hours, or 3.5 hours of care in a high-quality learning environment designed to limit close physical contact, as well as a virtual option for families to participate in from their home.

Child Crisis Arizona Training

Child Crisis Arizona's spring program calendar is live! Classes include Adoption 101, Neurosequential Model in Caregiving, Trauma Informed Parenting Techniques, and more! All trainings are virtual via Zoom.

Email FCATraining@childcrisisaz.org to register for training or the support group!

STEP Training- TUCSON

Support, Tools, and Education for Parents (STEP) is designed to build positive relationships between family members. It provides a safe space to discuss topics that may be too difficult to talk about at home. These conversations are about peer pressure, stress, and the importance of working together as a team. When caregivers and children work together, it creates a stronger family! The Children’s Advocacy Center understands that family does not always mean a biological parent and child. STEP is a program that will benefit the whole family, including biological, foster, kinship, and adoptive families.

Families enrolled in STEP will meet virtually each week. Each session consists of different topics such as communication, stress management, substance abuse prevention and how to talk to your child about difficult topics (identifying potential child abusers, child abuse, healthy and concerning sexualized behavior), each session building on the next. Child care will be available when classes are offered in person again. For questions, please contact Jackie Ballesteros at jballesteros@soazadvocacy.org or 520-724-2148.

Christian Family Care Training

AZ.127 Foster Family Support & Connections

AZ.127 will be offering support via Facebook & Instagram mini-sessions of techniques and tools from the Trust-Based Relational Intervention program. Additionally, they will be matching mentor foster families with foster families in need of support.

Caring Connections for Special Needs

Yavapai CASA for Kids

Helen's Hope Chest

At Helen's Hope Chest, our mission is to engage the community to provide for the basic needs of children and teens in foster and kinship care. Helen's provides more than just clothes for kids in care. It is important that every youth who comes through our door feels a sense of confidence, acceptance, and dignity. Our boutique environment allows kids to choose their favorite items and feel like they are in a regular store, all at no cost to the foster/kinship family.

Families with a current foster or kinship placement are encouraged to call us at 480-969-5411 to schedule an appointment.

Christian Family Care Thrift Store

Did you know, Christian Family Care’s Thrift Stores have been around since 1996? Previously known as Family Attic, our Tucson and Phoenix thrift stores help fund our adoption, foster care, and counseling programs. Make a donation, shop, or volunteer at our thrift stores. Don’t miss out on all of the amazing discounts we offer. All foster/adoptive families in Arizona receive a 25% off discount when shopping at our thrift stores. Just show the cashier this Thrive article for the discount. Visit https://cfcare.org/get-involved/#thrift-stores to learn more!

Tucson Resources

Spreading Threads is a grassroots, nonprofit community clothing bank that provides free clothes to foster youth in southern Arizona. The organization was founded by two foster moms in Tucson who have fostered and adopted several children in Arizona. Your donations go directly to local children in need. The second Saturday of each month, foster, adoptive, and kinship families can visit the clothing bank. A Notice to Provider will be needed. The clothing bank events are held at 2945 N Flowing Wells in Tucson.

A Mighty Change of Heart

A Mighty Change of Heart provides FREE duffle bags to foster children with new, age-appropriate items inside: 2 outfits, shoes & socks, underwear, book, diapers/wipes, hygiene items, and more. These bags have the children’s names embroidered on them, and are something that they can call their very own. They have delivered over 3,500 bags across the state.

Please check out their website for more information: www.amchaz.com. If your family, business, church group or school would be interested in holding a donation drive, please contact A Mighty Change of Heart. Items are always needed.

Warmline Supports Kinship and Foster Families

The Foster Parent Warmline is available for kinship families and licensed foster parents. While not an emergency number, Warmline staff can assist with information, timely communication, and support. It is not intended to discourage or replace direct and regular communication between the DCS Specialist and the out-of-home caregiver. You can reach the Warmline by calling 1-877-KIDSNEEDU (1-877-543-7633) and selecting Option 3. Please leave a message with your name and contact information in order to receive a call back.

Children's Heart Gallery

More than 70 percent of the children in need of forever families are adopted by their relatives or foster parents. For the remainder, special recruitment efforts like the Heart Gallery are used to connect them with a forever family.

The children featured in the Heart Gallery represent all ethnic groups and range in age from toddlers to teenagers. Some have special behavioral or medical needs, some are without siblings, and others are in groups of siblings.

Nellie