"In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage-to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness." - Alex Haley, Author of Roots
What is Family Finding?
The Family Finding model offers methods and strategies to locate and engage relatives of children living in out-of-home care. The goal of family finding is to provide each child with the life long connections that only a family can offer. Core beliefs inherent in this approach are:
- every child has a family;
- loneliness can be devastating and particularly felt by foster children;
- meaningful connections to family help a child develop a sense of belonging;
- and the single most identified factor contributing to positive outcomes for children involves meaningful connections and lifelong relationships with family.
Family Finding Steps:
Step 1 - Discovery,
2 - Engagement,
3 - Planning,
4 - Decision Making,
5 - Evaluation
Step 6 - Follow Up Support
Click here to review Family Finding Flier
 Volunteers Needed!
Family Finding runs exclusively through volunteers and we need YOUR help!!!
We urgently need volunteers willing to make phone calls, doable from your own home, on your own schedule.
Want to get involved?
For more information on how you can help click here.
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Join a search team
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Work closely with caseworkers
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Make phone calls
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Build family trees
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Search the internet for lost relatives
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Create positive supportive family connections for isolated foster children
Benefits of Family Finding
Lifelong connections: Children will potentially make a connection that could last a lifetime.
Emotional improvement: Children gain increased and improved family connections, decreased loneliness and a greater sense of belonging.
Decreased use of out-of-home care placements: Whenever possible, children may be placed with biological family members.
More successful placements: Children placed with biological family members have more opportunity to grow and develop in a healthy manner. Research demonstrates that biological families show more willingness to emotionally invest the time and energy to work with children who may have medical or emotional challenges.
More involved fathers: Fathers and their families can become more involved.
Compliance with the Adoption and Safe Families Act, Chapter 48, and the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
Everyone who volunteers in the Family Finding program must complete an AFFEC application, a background check, and training. Volunteers may do one or all of the steps in the process.
Volunteer Contact:
Laura Follett
541.343.2856 (o)
Fax: 541.343.2866
E-mail:
laura.follett@afamilyforeverychild.org
Upcoming Family Finding Training Opportunities:
2011 Schedule
Find Out More:
Family Finding Steps
Family Finding Facts & FAQ's
How Family Finding Helps
History of Family Finding
More information on Family Finding
Family Finding Success Stories, Articles & Links
Newsletters
Caseworkers:
Referral Form
Family Finding's part in the Family Connection Adoption Plan:
Heart Gallery of Lane County and A Family For Every Child are pleased to bring Kevin Campbell and his Family Finding Training to Lane County. Listen to Kevin Campbell explain in his own words
The program focuses on helping find positive connections for children who have lived in foster care the longest. We search for lost family and friend connections because it makes a huge positive difference for a child if even one permanent, supportive person exists in his or her life.
Family Connection is a multi-track adoption connection plan using a focused, proactive and defined series of steps to accomplish the goal of finding an adoptive family for a child needing a permanent home or permanent connection.
We start with a family connection search.
Our next step includes assembling an adoption team and determining which recruitment tools could benefit the child. These recruitment tools include the Heart Gallery, the Heart Gallery "child of the month" posting, faith based outreach, community outreach, specific recruitment, and sponsor families.
The adoption team reviews results weekly and meets when needed to ensure the plan works and change the plan as needed.
What happens when children age out of the foster care system?
Click here to see the trailer of "From Place to Place" -- When a Temporary System Becomes Permanent
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