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Background
The Alameda County Faith Initiative represents a partnership between the Alameda County Social Services Agency, Department of Children and Family Services, faith institutions and community-based organizations throughout Alameda County. This partnership acknowledges the community’s dedication to children and youth in foster care, and their commitment to ensure that they are provided access to all of the opportunities and life enriching experiences they so rightfully deserve. From Humble BeginningsThe Alameda County Faith Initiative began as a simple concept back in September of 2005. The goal was to bring together Faith Institutions throughout the County to assist the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in the recruitment and retention of 400 county licensed foster homes. To further the department’s commitment to permanency for all foster children and youth, outreach also included recruitment and retention of adoptive families. On September 1, 2005, the Department of DCFS hosted its first countywide faith breakfast to outline the challenges, and solicit help in developing strategies to meet those challenges. With over 75 faith leaders, community activist, adoptive parents, foster parents and concerned citizens in attendance, the breakfast was the start of the Alameda County Faith Initiative. To better inform the county’s planning and implementation efforts, the Social Services Agency invited faith leaders from East Oakland, West Oakland and South Hayward (the areas where the highest concentration of child abuse and neglect reports are filed) to accompany agency staff on a site visit to Raleigh-Durham North Carolina. The Raleigh-Durham Department of Children and Family Services has been operating a successful Faith County partnership for some time. The visit was successful in many respects, but most importantly, it provided the group with a first hand look at what could be replicated in Alameda County. On November 17, 2005, the department held a second countywide convening which resulted in the development of the Alameda County Faith Advisory Council. The Faith Advisory Council currently has a membership of 75 faith institutions and community organizations. Faith and community leaders could not turn away from the reality that thousands of children and youth in their communities were in need of parental support, love and guidance. Their unwavering commitment of time and resources has shaped the department’s strategies for community engagement, public awareness and recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive families. The Department of Children and Family Services is committed to providing member agencies with the full resources and support of the Social Services Agency to achieve our collective objective. The Road to SuccessThe Department of Children and Family Services recognized early on that a large public child welfare system alone could not meet the myriad needs of children and youth in foster care. Working with faith institutions and community organizations is a natural evolution of the department’s commitment to community partnership and full engagement. Leveraging the many successful social ministries and community initiatives that are operational and striving within faith institutions and community organizations benefits the children and families we mutually serve. Some of the guiding principles of the Faith Initiative are: "there is always room at our table" for any church, synagogue, mosque, temple, hall, faith/religious organization or community based organization who is committed to making a difference in the life of a foster child or youth. And finally, do what you can, when you can, but do something. We are excited about this new partnership and the benefits that it will have for the children and youth in foster care. "Every child deserves a family." We welcome and look forward to your participation. Carol Collins, Elder, Raymond Lankford |
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The Alameda County Social Services Agency, Department of Children and Family Services is committed to ensuring that every child and youth in foster care is afforded the opportunity to experience the love, care and support that only a family or extended family can provide.