Foster Care, Kinship and Adoption Support in Wilcox County, AL
32 programs for support for foster, kinship and adoptive families in Wilcox County, Alabama, including 4 local options. Phone numbers, who qualifies and what to bring. Call first: funding opens and closes.
Local in Wilcox County (4)
Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging - Alabama Cares Older Relative Caregiver Program
Grandparents raising grandchildren
Local · 10 Alabama counties
Alabama Cares (National Family Caregiver Support) for grandparents/older relatives raising children: information, case assistance, support groups, respite and limited supplemental help.
Trained volunteer advocates appointed by juvenile court to speak for the best interests of abused/neglected children in foster care; families/attorneys can ask the judge for a CASA.
Wilcox County DHR - Family Services (foster care, kinship, adoption)
Local · Wilcox County, AL
County office for foster home approval, relative/kinship placements, kinship guardianship, foster board payments, Independent Living referrals and reporting child abuse/neglect; Mon-Fri business hours.
Alabama DHR - Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Housing Vouchers
Statewide (AL)
Time-limited (up to 3 years) Housing Choice Voucher for youth leaving foster care who are homeless or at risk, referred by DHR to the local housing authority.
Regional coordinators of the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association connect foster/kinship parents to local associations, training and advocacy.
From AFAPA 2024 workbook: Misty Woodham 334-618-5584; Mary Smith 334-303-1426; Buddy Hooper 256-507-3273; Darla Works Nelson 256-595-3849; Stacy Justice 256-668-2748; Shanna Burchett 205-267-9065; Whitney Cannedy 251-767-8426. Regions not stated. AFAPA 'Find Your Local Association' page could not be read.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System - Grandparents/Relatives Raising Children
Statewide (AL)
Extension family and child development programs for grandparents and relatives raising minor children (caregiver summits, parenting education); contact your county Extension office.
Contact listed for the 2023 Grandparent Caregiver Summit (Danielle Rudolph); county Extension offices exist in all 67 counties. Program schedule varies.
Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (AFAPA)
Statewide (AL)
Statewide association for foster, adoptive and kinship parents: training, annual conference, advocacy, handbook, links to local county foster parent associations.
Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections (APAC) - Children's Aid Society
Statewide (AL)
Free statewide pre- and post-adoption/permanency support: training, support groups, case management, crisis help, camps, referrals for adoptive, kinship-guardian and foster families (offices in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Mobile).
Christian family-style ranch homes for at-risk teens: Baldwin County Boys Ranch, St. Clair County Boys Ranch, FAME Colbert County Girls Ranch, Tallapoosa Girls Ranch; school help, college program, independent-living skills.
Foster care/therapeutic foster care, adoption support, Independent Living for older foster youth, Project Independence housing for young homeless mothers, EPIC parenting classes, summer camps.
Foster care licensing/support, family preservation, Independent Living (to 21), Higher Education housing for youth from care, Support for Success (ETV/Fostering Hope help), Babies First home for young mothers in care, Headland Boys Home.
Service locations also in Florence, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Headland, Dothan, Andalusia and Mobile (addresses not listed). Older UMCH line 334-386-5354.
Photo-listing of Alabama foster children waiting for adoption; S.O.A.R. mentoring (with Big Brothers Big Sisters) for teens at risk of aging out; birthday/holiday support.
Christian child-placing agency: foster care licensing/training, domestic and international adoption, Families Count/Harbor Families support for at-risk families, counseling for adoptive and foster families.
Talladega campus: Moderate Care home for teen girls referred by DHR, Transition to Adult Living (women 19-24), Secure Dwellings housing for homeless children with female caregivers, Family Bridges reunification, therapeutic foster care.
Free, 24/7 referral line. Finds the smaller church and community funds near their address that open up week to week. Also 1-888-421-1266, or text a ZIP code to 898-211.
State line to become a foster or adoptive parent: inquiry form, 30-hour preparation course, home approval; foster homes get a monthly board payment (FY2024 rates: $527.57 age 0-2, $543.43 age 3-5, $556.84 age 6-12, $571.48 age 13-21) plus up to 7 respite days/yr.
Independent living services for foster youth age 14+ in every county: life skills, transition planning, ILP funding, aftercare for youth 18-20 who left care and return to request services, D.R.E.A.M. youth council.
Permanency option where a relative who has fostered a child becomes the court-awarded kinship guardian; ask county DHR about ongoing guardianship assistance and Medicaid.
Relatives fully approved as foster parents who have had the child 6+ consecutive months, when reunification/adoption are not appropriate; youth 14+ consulted
Good to know
DHR page does not state the subsidy amount; contact the county DHR office.
One-stop information and referral for grandparents and other relatives raising children, inside or outside foster care: benefits, legal options, support groups, education.
Was in Alabama foster care and aged out in Alabama; under 26; sign up before leaving care (by 18-19)
Good to know
Write on the application that you were in foster care; ask DHR caseworker/transition team to help. Alabama does not cover youth who aged out in another state.
Covers tuition and required fees at Alabama public community/technical colleges and universities for certificate or degree programs (Alabama's foster youth tuition benefit).
ILconnect (Alabama Independent Living Resource Site)
Statewide (AL)
DHR / Children's Aid Society site and staff for foster youth and alumni: post-care support, ILP funding info, vital documents, career, education, housing and life-skills resources.