FOSTER CARE

Helping children in foster care succeed is a new focus under the renewed Children’s Levy approved by voters in Fall 2008 for an additional five years.

The Levy's Allocation Committee in June 2009 awarded $4.96 million through June 2012 to nine local foster care programs benefiting Portland children and their families.

The nine organizations/programs receiving investments are:

• NAYA Family Center, $1.38 million for NAYA Native American Foster Care Services
• Impact NW, $750,000 for Parent Child Development Services Safe & Together
• Self Enhancement Inc., $750,000 for SEI Foster Care Program
• Juvenile Rights Project, $562,643 for SchoolWorks
• Janus Youth Programs, Inc., $470,896 for Insights Teen Parent Program–ECHO
• Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital, $400,000 for Medical Home for Children in Foster Care
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Portland $352,952 for Project Hope
• Children’s Relief Nursery, $175,000 for Helping Children in Foster Care Succeed
• Boys and Girls Aid, $109,556 for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids The investments span a 36-month period from July 2009 through June 2012.

These investments help hundreds of children age birth through 24 in foster care programs that:

• Help maintain placement stability
• Move children out of foster care sooner
• Provide educational support networks, especially during major school transitions, as well as for youth aging out of foster care
• Promote mentoring and enrichment activities
• Offer mental health services

Many of the programs also address the over-representation of children of color in the child welfare system.