ALLEGHENY FAMILY NETWORK

CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (CYF)/FOSTER CARE - AFN COLLABORATES WITH THE CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (CYF) AGENCY, SUPPORTING FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN ENTERING PLACEMENT FOR THE SECOND TIME. AFN SUPPORTS THE PARENTS WITH A TEAM USING THE HIGH FIDELITY WRAPAROUND MODEL. THIS IS A STRENGTH-BASED MODEL THAT FIRST HEARS THE FAMILY'S VOICE AND CHOICE AS TO WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AFN PARTICIPATES IN THE CONFERENCING AND TEAMING PROCESS FOR FAMILIES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. THIS PROCESS FOCUSES ON THE VOICE OF THE FAMILY AND IS SIMILAR TO THE HIGH FIDELITY WRAPAROUND PROCESS.AFN IS CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE FAMILY SUPPORT PROVIDERS (FSP) FOR CYF'S DILIGENT RECRUITMENT PROGRAM (FOSTER CARE PROGRAM). THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AN FSP IS ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH FOSTER PARENTS WHO ARE FOSTERING A TEEN IN THEIR HOME. THIS PROGRAM WAS INITIATED TO HELP TRY TO PREVENT PLACEMENT DISRUPTIONS AND IDENTIFY AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FOSTER PARENTS WHO ARE WILLING TO ALLOW A TEENAGER IN THEIR HOME. ALL FSPS IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE EXPERIENCE AS A FOSTER PARENT AND ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

MENTAL HEALTH (MH) - AFN WORKS, IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COUNTY PROVIDERS, TO SUPPORT FAMILIES ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN OTHER HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. CLIENT FAMILIES ARE REFERRED TO AFN FOR SERVICES BY OTHER COUNTY PROVIDERS. AFN PROVIDES A FAMILY SUPPORT PARTNER (FSP) TO EACH FAMILY SERVED. AFN ALSO STAFFS THE AFN CHAT LINE TO ANSWER CALLS REQUESTING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES GOING THROUGH THE MH AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES OF THEIR CHILDREN. AFN OFFERS FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS THROUGHOUT ALLEGHENY COUNTY.