Other Outreach Programs



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Legislative Committee: We often meet with juvenile court judges and legislatures to express our concerns for children that have been placed in Iowa's foster care system. Some of our many concerns are:

• The number of times that children are moved to different foster homes (often 5-20 times until they reach the age of 18)
• Returning a child to a birth parent who has previously committed founded child abuse.
• Allowing children to remain in homes of known drug users, despite the fact that the police have notified the Department of Human Services of the crime.

FHF Network: Through networking, we have been able to fulfill many needs for children and families ranging from simple things like locating children's furniture to, at the request of DHS social workers, identifying potential homes for children in need of emergency placements. FHF lends informal peer support, especially for new foster families who request it. FHF also seeks to cooperatively support the work of professionals who advocate for the children in need.

Marketing: FHF strives to raise public awareness of issues local children in foster care face. Billboards, radio ads and fliers have been donated and purchased. Presentations have been made to community members or groups. Magazines, newspapers and television news stories have profiled the efforts of FHF and its leadership.

Service Projects: For the DHS, a multipurpose meeting room used for family visits was cleaned, organized and new toys were provided. A painting and cleaning project was completed for Urban Headstart. A pop can drive was held to purchase new playground equipment for Urban Headstart. In 2006, City Looks Salon and FHF were able to provide Christmas presents for dozens of foster children.

Car Seats: In cooperation with WalMart and K-Mart, over $1000 in car seats have been purchased and provided to DHS and families in need.

Gift Cards: In cooperation with WalMart, over $1000 in gift cards have been provided to investigators for distribution to foster families for the emergency placement of children.

Training: FHF has provided training with professional guest speakers addressing issues for children and families involved in foster care. Childcare has been provided for this training, meals served and mandatory training hours for foster parents provided.