Supports for Resource Families

NEED INFO? NEED TO TALK? You can call your local ACRF office for information, support and ideas. Call 1-800-478-7307 Toll Free or click HERE to find out how to contact your local ACRF Office.

Helpful Links for Foster Parents

OCS Centralized Contact List

OCS Forms and Publications

Foster Wear Foster Wear is a program of participating Alaska businesses who offer a discount on clothing to licensed foster families and unlicensed kinship families to assist in providing quality clothing to children and youth in care.

Resource Family Advisory Board consists of resource family, community partners and staff from the State of Alaska Office of Children's Services and provides a forum of communication between Alaska's resource families and OCS.

Financial Guide for Newly Licensed Foster Parents This guide outlines the financial supports and procedures for new foster parents, but is a good reminder for experienced resource families as well! Covers clothing vouchers, child care support, Medicaid, the foster care payment, and request for special funds.

Keeping in Touch This handout offers practical strategies for more effective communication with your child’s caseworker.

IFoster Through joining iFoster, resource parents and youth gain access to discounts and resources. Membership is free.

Fostering Families Today Produces a bimonthly magazine filled with good information about fostering and adopting issues

Beacon Hill Supporting and serving Alaska’s children in foster care and those at risk of entering foster care. Programs include Safe Families for Children, their Family Support and Visiting Center in Anchorage, home-like family contact space in Mat-Su; family contact best practice training and coaching, Foster Well online communities and the Heart Gallery of Alaska.

Support Groups and Networks in Alaska

Also check out the ACRF Training Calendars for Listing of Other Events

Support Groups

Statewide Foster and Adoptive Parent Support Group meets the third Thursday of each month via zoom. Check out our Virtual Training Calendar for the next meeting location and time. Contact ACRF at acrf@nwresource.org to get more information on joining this support group.

Mat-Su Connection Café – First Tuesday of the month 5:30-7pm at Mat-Su Beacon Hill 1951 N Hemmer Rd. Palmer, AK 99645. Contact Jodi von Brandt (jvonbrandt@nwresource.org) for information or join group at ps://www.facebook.com/groups/375261584159435.

Kinship Family Support The Kinship Family Program through Volunteers of America has regular support groups and activities for Alaskans who are caring for family members. (907-522-9866 or visit www.voaak.org for more information).

Facebook Groups

Alaska Adoptive and Foster Parents is a closed group open to families in Alaska.

Interior Alaska Foster Care Families is a great resource for support from both foster and adoptive families in the Interior of Alaska, though they are open to families from around the state.

Southeast Alaska Foster Care Families Another regional group focusing on supporting foster families in the Southeast panhandle of Alaska. This is also a closed group open only to foster families, former foster families, or families in the process of being licensed.

Foster Well Mat-Su – Connecting Mat-Su area foster and adoptive parents to compassionate community members with a well of resources, support and encouragement. An initiative of Beacon Hill.

Foster Well Anchorage - Connecting Anchorage area foster and adoptive parents to compassionate community members with a well of resources, support and encouragement. An initiative of Beacon Hill.

Alaska Regional Resources and Statewide Directories

Anchorage: Resource 1 ~~~ Resource 2

Northern Region

Mat Su Valley

Mat Su Therapeutic Resource Guide for Adoptive Parents

The Mat Su Valley Paper Navigator: FASD and Trauma Resources for Families Caring for Young Children

Juneau and Southeast

Southern Kenai Peninsula

Alaska Family Directory Disability and School Resources from around the state

Alaska Behavioral Health Resource Guide

Alaska 211 211 is a statewide telephone and webbased system that connects people with needed human services through an easy to remember number. Information is also available online at www.alaska211.org. Call 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221 Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm to or visit our website 24/7 when you need help finding help. It's free and confidential.