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  • Serving Troubled Youths
  • AWFC Launch Program

AWFC Serving Seriously Troubled Youth and Children

A World For Children was unfortunately unable to place over 5800 placement referrals for youth and children in 2008. In reviewing our statistics, we recognized that the majority of those referrals we could not serve were sibling groups and youth over the age of 13 who had emotional and behavioral problems. These same populations have been identified by TDFPS as the largest population needing foster care. This trend follows society and the family unit. With the breakdown of families and the economic downfall, abuse and neglect is increasing - thus creating troubled youth with extensive behaviors.

To meet the great need of foster care, TDFPS is focusing on protecting children by placing them in kinship care with relatives. The main ones who cannot be placed and will be entering our foster homes are the ones who have been most traumatized and have need of intensive intervention services.

The AWFC staff recognizes that we need to become creative in finding ways to better serves these youth and children Led by Statewide Program Director Rebecca Allen, the staff of AWFC is working diligently on a paradigm shift in our clinical services and training activities.

Our World is focusing on preparing our foster parents to better serve this difficult population who have been severely traumatized creating extreme behaviors. The training goal in each of our 13 areas is to train our families regarding serving these youth and children. Many of our areas have had mini training workshops specializing in working with really troubled youth. In addition to the training component, AWFC is employing additional clinicians who will help guide and support staff and families in exploring effective interventions. Also the treatment team will identify the specific needs of each child and find appropriate wrap around services in the various communities. LAUNCH is the title of the initiative to better serve our youth and children. See LAUNCH story Below for more specific information.

A WORLD FOR CHILDREN LAUNCH!
A transitional living program to help youth succeed


  • L Learn
    A Adjust
    U Unite
    N Navigate
    C Citizenship
    H Honor
    ! We will work with purpose and enthusiasm!!

 

LAUNCH! represents an AWFC philosophical and value based program which will help teens in foster care successfully prepare for independent living, with each symbol in the acronym representing a key component of the program. We believe that youth must launch from the familiar into the future with a purposeful, individualized plan which will prepare them for their unique journey. The goal of the program is to help each youth enter adulthood with necessary tools, skills and confidence.
LEARN Each youth, and each person who works in the team with the youth, must be willing to learn new skills. Training for staff and foster parents is key to ensuring quality program delivery. Teaching youth necessary skills and allowing them to practice those skills will instill confidence.
ADJUST Each of us must be flexible and negotiate difficult situations. The transition into adulthood is scary for the youth as well as the adults supporting the youth, so we must all be willing to listen to concerns and ideas.
UNITE There is no such thing as a successful launch without caring people in the background working together to ensure success. Each person must communicate effectively, work on the “same page” with all members of the team, and locate all available resources that can support the youth’s plan.
NAVIGATE A launch must be focused on a destination, recognizing and planning around the obstacles in the way. There must be an individualized plan for each youth which will address goals, strategies, barriers, team members, resources and direction.
CITIZENSHIP We believe that youth are more successful when they are able to make change for themselves, negotiate with other people in the larger society, and involve themselves positively and productively in their communities. We want our youth to feel empowered and confident in their skills and abilities as they engage with others in our society.
HONOR A bedrock principle supporting this program is respect for one another. This includes respect for the youth in care as well as all the adults engaged in the program. There will be differing cultures, ideas, life experiences, life choices, and spiritual guidance. All people working together within this program must demonstrate honor and respect.
  ! The exclamation point is a reminder to us that LAUNCH! must be a program which is implemented with the belief that all youth can succeed, and that we will work together enthusiastically toward the goals set by the youth.

“LAUNCHING DREAMS” of Youth in AWFC’s Care

LAUNCHING Dreams is the theme of an intensive training conference A World For Children is hosting in three areas of the State. AWFC is raising the bar in services provided to youth in care. We recognize the fate of many graduates of the Texas foster care system is prison, death and/or continuing the cycle of abuse and neglect. Our World has accepted the challenge to help kids in our care reach out and connect to a star of success. After much discussion, our AWFC management team determined the first step must be to provide really quality training. Spotlighting the specific issues and potential interventions of traumatized youth will be the focus of our LAUNCHING Dreams Conference.

The conferences will be held as follows:

  • October 12 & 13, 2009 Abilene Civic Center Abilene, Texas
  • October 23 & 24, 2009 Dallas, Texas
  • October 26 & 27, 2009 Norris Conference Center San Antonio, Texas

 

All AWFC foster parent and staff are invited and encouraged to come to a conference. Not only is the registration fee waived for our AWFC families, our families may use their third or fourth quarter respite to help with hotel expenses. A luncheon will be provided on the first day of the conference. In addition, AWFC will be providing a dinner theater experience that will be breathtaking…..
AWFC encourages all providers, professionals, CPS staff, foster families, CASA workers, etc. to participate. The registration “early bird: fee is only $100.00. Approximately 12 hours of training can be earned including CPU credit.
A World For Children has a reputation for “doing things right” and these conferences are no exception. Some of our conference speakers include


Very soon registration information will be available on-line and we will provide a full list of workshop speakers.

For more information, you may call A World For Children at 1-888-641-1055

or email at awfc@awfc.org