activities · 4
what they do
direct service · 3
- Financial Assistance for Basic Needs and Enrichment Activities Foster Child Essential Support GrantsProvides financial assistance for essential items like clothing (including special event attire), school supplies, books, and car seats/baby equipment for children in foster care. The organization also funds participation in extracurricular activities such as sports, camps, classes, and admission to theme parks or events, both within and outside Arizona.
- Post-Secondary Education Support Youth Workforce Development for Foster AlumniProvides funding and targeted programs to support youth in foster care pursuing post-secondary education, assisting 219 students. This also includes sending care packages to 221 students and offering academic support to 112 scholars to help them remain in school, as well as individual tutoring (up to $400 per month).
- Youth Transition and Independence ProgramsOperates the "Keys to Success" program and other transition initiatives to support teens and youth moving out of foster care. This includes providing financial literacy education (delivered to 170 youth), housing coaching and support services (provided to 229 youth), and building competencies for career and life achievement.
research · 1
- Impact Evaluation of Programs Career Pathways Development & Workforce AlignmentCommissions independent evaluations of its programs, such as the "Keys to Success" program, by research institutions like the Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy.
strategies · 16
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Arizona Foster Care Tax Credit Fundraising Model tax_credit_fundraising_modelThe organization leverages the Arizona Foster Care Tax Credit program to enable donors to redirect their state tax liabilities, thereby funding the organization's initiatives and services for foster children and families.
- Comprehensive Whole-Journey Support Model comprehensive support modelProvides continuous, holistic support to children and youth throughout their entire foster care experience, addressing evolving needs from entry to transition.
- Direct Information Provision information_provisionEquips stakeholders with comprehensive information about Arizona’s foster care system, including challenges faced by children and available resources for foster parents.
- Direct Payment and Reimbursement Systems direct payment to providersImplements a structured financial support system using direct payments to service providers (e.g., tutors) and a reimbursement model for foster parents, ensuring accountability and timely access to critical services.
- Enrichment-Based Empowerment enrichment-based empowermentFunds life-enriching experiences that build self-esteem and promote resilience, preparing foster youth for successful adulthood through expanded opportunities.
- Financial and Programmatic Milestone Support financial_and_program_support_for_milestonesOffers targeted financial assistance and programs to help foster youth and caregivers achieve key developmental milestones and personal goals.
- Foster Youth Transition Support foster_youth_transition_supportThe organization specifically supports youth aging out of foster care by fostering stable, meaningful connections and expanding access to opportunities that promote success and independence, with an emphasis on evaluating program impact through independent research.
- Holistic Support for Foster Youth and Families comprehensive_support_modelThe organization provides comprehensive support to foster children and youth throughout their entire foster care experience, addressing basic needs, developmental milestones, and the transition to adulthood. This includes financial assistance, program support, and services that enrich life experiences and build self-esteem, aiming to foster stable connections and expand opportunities for independence.
- Independent Program Evaluation independent_program_evaluationUses independent research and evaluation to assess the impact of the Keys to Success program on youth transitioning out of foster care, ensuring accountability and evidence-based improvement.
- Mentorship and Trauma-Informed Care for Independence mentorship_and_trauma_informed_careThe organization utilizes a mentorship model to equip foster parents with the skills to teach life skills to teens, promoting independence. This approach is underpinned by trauma-informed care principles to foster healthy relationship-building between foster parents and teens.
- Mentorship-Based Skill Development mentorship_modelEmploys a mentorship model in which foster caregivers actively teach essential life skills to teens, promoting independence and successful transition to adulthood.
- Prioritized Funding Allocation prioritized fundingAllocates funding to one primary activity per child at a time to maximize impact, with exceptions for critical survival skills like swimming.
- Targeted Financial Disbursement Model targeted_financial_disbursementThe organization employs a specific financial disbursement model that prioritizes funding for one activity at a time per child (with exceptions for survival skills like swimming), utilizes a reimbursement model for approved expenses, and directly pays providers for certain services like tutoring, rather than reimbursing applicants.
- Tax Credit Fundraising Model tax-credit fundraising modelLeverages the Arizona Foster Care Tax Credit program to redirect donors' state tax liabilities to fund support services for foster youth, aligning financial incentives with community investment in child welfare.
- Transition Support for Aging-Out Youth foster-youth-transition-supportSupports youth exiting foster care by building stable, meaningful relationships and expanding access to opportunities that foster long-term success and independence.
- Trauma-Informed Care Approach trauma-informed_careApplies trauma-informed principles to strengthen relationships between foster parents and youth, recognizing the impact of past trauma on behavior and connection.
named programs · 9
what they call their work
Academic Support Program
Covers tutoring costs up to $400/month for individual sessions, paid directly to qualified providers, and funds books and school supplies up to $50/year
Bicycle or Scooter Program
Offers funding for bicycles, scooters, skates, or skateboards once every two years, with maximum reimbursement of $135–$250 based on age
Clothing Assistance
Provides reimbursement for clothing purchases up to $150–$250 per child annually, based on age, including special event attire such as for prom or quinceañeras
Extracurricular Activities Funding
Covers costs for classes and activities up to $125/month per child, including dance, music, and enrichment programs, with support renewable every three months
Kinship Care Support
Provides car seats ($125), strollers ($100), and haircuts ($50) for children in unlicensed kinship care homes
Sports Participation Support
Funds sports registration fees up to $125/month and athletic equipment or uniforms up to $200 per child, with separate application processes for each
Summer Camp Assistance
Provides up to $425 per year for one week of summer camp per child in foster care
Themed Event & Theme Park Access
Provides up to $50 for in-state theme park or event admission and up to $225 for out-of-state theme park entry per child annually
Travel & School Trip Assistance
Offers up to $450 for school-organized trips, including educational or religious travel, with documentation required
relationships · 6
who they work with
- AFFCF Preferred Vendors Partner — Collaborates with preferred partners for tutoring services, requiring applicants to contact them for initial appointments.
- Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation Partner — Referred to as the operating name for AFFCF in program delivery.
- Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy Partner — Conducted an independent review of the Keys to Success program.
- Durfee Fostering Transitions Fund Partner — Fund established by the Durfee family to support youth in foster care, partnered with AFFCF to achieve shared goals.
- Fry’s Partner — Retail partner through which supporters can contribute via shopping.
- Office of Licensing and Regulation Government — Requires the Life Safety Inspection as part of the foster care licensing process in Arizona.