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Program offered to help foster children

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Alternative Opportunities, Inc. known as AO, in Farmington, is beginning a new program to help foster children.

AO is a not-for-profit human service organization serving youth and adults throughout much of Missouri. Earlier this year, the agency was awarded the Chaffee Grant by the Missouri Department of Social Services to serve southern and central Missouri. The program provides foster youth with the skills they need to become successful, independent adults. Assistance can be provided in the form of education, employment, community service, youth leadership and independent living skills. AO’s Executive Director of Education & Chafee Services, Mary Edgar-Braning, leads the new program.

“Alternative Opportunities, Inc. is the largest contractor in Missouri, providing these services to 53 of the 57 counties in southern and central Missouri,” says Edgar-Braning. “There are an estimated 1,400 foster youth in AO’s regions that may be referred for services.”

She said as with most programs, the demand is greater than the need and assistance is needed from individuals, businesses, church groups, civic groups and other community organizations. Opportunities to get involved include donating money, providing a care package for foster youth going away to college, helping foster children pay for college tuition or books, assisting youth in getting affordable housing, insurance and transportation and mentoring a foster child.

Children are placed in foster care for a variety of reasons that include abuse, neglect, abandonment, drugs, alcohol, or parents unable or unwilling to properly care for their child.  Many will not be reunited with a family member and must acquire the skills and knowledge to eventually be on their own. AO's goal is to provide each of these youth with every opportunity to be productive, happy, well-adjusted, adults in our community. What happens when young people leave home and attempt life on their own?  Most can move back in with mom and dad or another relative, if things get too tough. Foster youth lack that safety net. Once they have “aged out” of the system at 21, have emancipated themselves at 18, or have been released from state custody for other reasons, they are “on their own.”   

For more information on how to assist Chafee foster youth visit www.aoinc.org or contact Kelly Hartupee, by calling (573) 756-0707 at the Farmington Alternative Opportunities office.

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