A record number of kids are currently in Alaska’s Foster Care System. Caseworkers are overloaded. Families and kids are frustrated, but it’s not all bad news. Communities around the state are developing solutions to both support families who are involved with the system and prevent kids from going into foster care in the first place.
This event brought together community members with diverse experiences and questions. During the forum we encouraged questions and comments from the audience. All community members were invited to participate in a conversation about making foster care successful and preventing kids from entering the system.
SPEAKERS:
- Christy Lawton, the Director of the Office of Children’s Services
- Lola Stepetin, Director of Family Services with the Nome Eskimo Community
- Amanda Metivier, Director of Facing Foster Care Alaska
- Laura Ingham, foster mother & former foster child
MODERATORS:
LINKS:
- Alaska's Office of Children's Services -State agency in charge of child welfare
- Alaska Center for Resource Families - Trains foster and adoptive families
- Facing Foster Care Alaska - Supports foster children
- Beacon Hill - Helps maintain relationships between foster children and their biological parents
- Alaska Youth and Family Network - Supports parents who are trying to regain custody of their children
RECORDED: Wednesday, April 27 in the Alaska Public studios