Help our leaders understand that children must be a priority by maintaining funding that will:
• Promote prevention of child abuse and neglect (Healthy communities)
• Maintain current staffing levels at the Office of Children’s Services
• Recruit foster families for children in need
• Promote training and professional development for foster parents and child welfare workers
Why is this important?
There are over 2,400 children in foster care in Alaska, a record number only expected to increase. The state is parent to these children, yet, does not have adequate resources to meet the growing demands of children and families in our foster care system. Cuts to programs that serve vulnerable children or that try and prevent maltreatment from occurring will result in horrific social and fiscal costs for decades to come.
