Foster and Adoptive Family Services

Every two years the New Jersey Juniors membership selects an organization within our state to support through fundraising and volunteer activities.   The organization selected for our State Project for 2008-10, is Foster and Adoptive Family Services of New Jersey (FAFS)

The presentation by FAFS at the New Jersey Fall Conference was incredibly moving.  There are over 9,000 children in foster care in the state of New Jersey.   The state provides limited funding to foster families, and it is not enough to cover the children’s living expenses such as clothing, medical coverage, school supplies, and toys.  These children are most often physically removed from their biological families and can be placed in foster homes, separated from their siblings.

Founded in 1972, Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) is a state-wide grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the special needs of foster and adoptive families and advocating for improved foster care services. FAFS is headquartered in Monmouth Junction, NJ and has 22 County Volunteer Committees, one in each county and two in Essex. FAFS currently receives funding through the NJ Department of Children and Families to provide services to more than 5,000 foster and adoptive families who provide a safety net for children removed from their biological families due to abuse and neglect. Some of the contract services FAFS provides include support services, training, and state funded scholarships.

FAFS has identified gaps in services to children in foster care and has developed programs to meet these gaps. Since they receive no government funding for these programs it has become essential for them to partner with charitable organizations such as the NJSFWC Junior Membership to meet these needs.

Backpack Program - Bridging the gap between safety and dignity. The goal of this program is to provide each child coming into foster care with a backpack that contains special items that help make the removal less traumatic. The ways in which you can help are to collect backpacks and other items to fill them or distribute backpacks to County Volunteer Committees.

Private Scholarship Program - Bridging the gap between hope and a future. The goal of this program is to provide scholarships for youth aging out of foster care, and those adopted from foster care, for academic pursuits as well as independent living. The overriding goal of the scholarship program is to assist these young people with a smooth transition to adulthood. The ways in which you can help are to contribute funds to FAFS’ existing founder’s scholarships or establish and raise funds for a scholarship in the name of the Junior Membership of the NJSFWC or to serve on FAFS Selections Committee to choose award winners.

Fostering Wishes for Children Program - Bridging the gap between dreams and possibilities. The goal of this program is to provide children in foster care with opportunities that are otherwise unavailable for them through $75 mini-grants that are awarded annually. You can help by providing financial support to enable FAFS to grant as many wishes as possible.

A Gift for Every Child Holiday Initiative - Bridging the gap between loneliness and holiday cheer. The goal of the program is to provide every child in foster care in New Jersey with a gift during the holiday season. You can help by conducting fundraisers or collect new toys for our children and providing volunteer assistance at holiday parties throughout the state.

Campership Program - Bridging the gap between old and new experiences. The goal of this program is to provide children in foster care with an enriching week-long sleep away camp experience that enhances self-esteem, positive social interaction, team-building skills and allows sibling groups an opportunity to spend time together. You can help by assisting FAFS in expanding the program to include more camps across the state and raising funds to provide more children with camp scholarships.

Bedtime for Children in Care Literacy Initiative - Bridging the gap between literacy and education. This program is designed to promote literacy for children in care by providing gift bags that contain pajamas, slippers and new books for bedtime reading. You can help by collecting items for the bags and assembling them for distribution or attend events and distribute bags.

A Walk to Celebrate Children - Bridging the gap between ignorance and knowledge Fall 2009. This program is designed to increase the public’s awareness of children in foster care and to raise funds to support FAFS’ programs. You can help by assisting FAFS in the planning and organizing process and by participating in the walk