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Child Welfare League of America Announces Hurricane Katrina Aid Grants to Help Foster Children
For more information, contact
Joyce Johnson
Phone: 804/492-4519
Cell: 703/980-7641
E-mail: jjohnson@cwla.org
June 1, 2006, Washington, DC -- The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) announced today the awarding of several Hurricane Katrina Fund for Foster Children aid grants. The grants were made possible through a generous gift of $700,000 from the Freddie Mac Foundation to the Child Welfare League of America for distribution to non-profit organizations serving foster children and their families affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The Fund provides disaster relief and assistance with the long-term recovery needs of community-based agencies as they rebuild their capacity to assist children in foster care. According to the Freddie Mac Foundation, Hurricane Katrina affected nearly 4,000 foster children. In the New Orleans area alone, 1,000 foster families lost their homes.
"We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to acknowledge and reward those agencies who have been on the front lines helping children and families recover from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina," said Shay Bilchik, President and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America.
Grants were awarded to the following applicants:
- $150,000 to The Saint Francis Academy of Salinas, Kansas. Saint Francis provides services to children in foster care in Mississippi and Louisiana and will use the funds for grounds clean-up and repairs, salaries of staff, replacement of equipment and expenses incurred related to the evacuation and return of children;
- $65,882 to Raintree Children and Family Services of New Orleans for staff salaries, utilities for Katrina housing, maintenance and repairs, advertising and background checks to support foster care services provided by the agency;
- $74,855 to Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth in Jackson, MS for salary and fringe benefits for a new staff person and to offset rent and utility expenses;
- $43,400 to the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) for the South Mississippi Foster Parent Association's Family Resource Center and an additional $42,300 for the Southeast Louisiana Foster Parent Association's Family Resource Center. Funding is provided for rent, insurance, utilities, equipment, furnishings, training and operating expenses to establish the Family Resource Centers.
- $100,000 to the Devereux Texas Treatment Network in League City, Texas for staff salaries and fringe benefits, clean-up and repairs, operating expenses, and the travel expenses for the evacuation and return of children and staff to the campus.
About Saint Francis Academy
Saint Francis Academy was founded in 1945 by the Rt. Rev. Robert H. "Father Bob" Mize, Jr. as the St. Francis Boys' Home in Ellsworth, Kansas. Today Saint Francis serves over 700 clients each day through numerous programs in seven states. Saint Francis's mission is to be an instrument of healing for children, youth, and families in spirit, mind, and body, so they live responsibly and productively with purpose and hope. For more information visit www.st-francis.org.
About Raintree Children and Family Services
Raintree Children and Family Services is a non-profit social service organization serving the Greater New Orleans Area since 1926. Although partially funded by the State of Louisiana, Raintree also relies on community support. However, a major source of private funding comes from individual donors who support the agency's mission and want to share its work. FRIENDS of Raintree, a philanthropic organization, also provides volunteer and financial support to Raintree Children and Family Services. For more information about Raintree Children and Family Services visit www.raintreeservices.org.
About Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth
Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth, Inc. is a faith based child and family organization that operates an array of services statewide. Licensed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and certified by the Mississippi Department of mental Health. SCSCY's mission is to serve and equip vulnerable children and youth, assisting them in the process of becoming self sufficient and contributing members of society. SCSCY is a partner in ministry with the Great River Region of the Christian Church. (Disciples of Christ) For more information on SCSCY visit www.scscy.org.
About the National Foster Parent Association
The National Foster Parent Association is the only national organization which strives to support foster parents, and remains a consistently strong voice on behalf of all children. NFPA supports foster parents in achieving safety, permanence and well-being for the children and youth in their care. NFPA's primary activities include promoting the delivery of services and supports to foster families, support for quality foster care by promoting excellence and best practice, providing services and supports to state and local foster parent associations, education and training, advocacy at the local, state and national levels and promoting a positive image of family foster care and increasing visibility for the needs of foster parents and foster children. For more information visit www.nfpainc.org.
About Devereux Texas Treatment Network
Building on the success of its Victoria, Texas campus established in 1959, Devereux Texas Treatment Network opened its second campus in 1992. Located just outside of the metropolitan Houston area in northern Galveston County's League City, this peaceful 49-acre campus provides nurturing and tranquil environment for all clients either through residential, hospitalization or outpatient care. From children and adolescents to young and older adults, Devereux-League City treats clients with a variety of issues and problems. They are welcomed into appropriate treatment programs by caring, compassionate and skilled professionals who are ready to help. For more information visit www.devereux.org.
About CWLA
Since 1920, the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) has been the nation's pre-eminent organization dedicated to ensuring that disadvantaged and vulnerable children are protected from harm and have the tools and resources they need to grow into the healthy and happy adults we want them to become. CWLA is the trusted authority for professionals who work with children and the only national organization with members from both public and private agencies, providing unique access and influence to all sectors of the children's services field. For more information visit www.cwla.org.
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