Family Connections

Program Overview

Family Connections is a hands-on family-finding program devoted to the mission of finding loving and supportive homes for children in foster care by (re)connecting them with their relatives. Our dedicated team operates like private investigators, employing a range of advanced techniques such as cold calling, in-person visits, thorough background checks, and extensive internet searches. Through these efforts, we construct an intricate family tree for each child, uncovering an average of 100 relatives and ensuring a wide array of placement options.

Eligibility

Family Connections serves residents of St. Louis City, as well as the surrounding counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Warren.
Available to children in foster care between the ages of 0 and 17 years.
Team must have the willingness to engage with and ultimately place the youth with an appropriate relative should one be found.
Youth must be able to be safely placed within the community within 30 days.
If youth is in a residential, they must be within 60 days or less from discharge at the time of referral.

What to Expect

Family Connections mirrors our 30 Days to Family® program but can accept referrals at any point in a child’s foster care journey. Our process begins by identifying, contacting, and notifying potential family members to determine safe/appropriate supports and potential placement options that will ensure the child maintains their family connection and relationships. We will begin our search by contacting parents, siblings, and grandparents and will expand the child’s family tree to a minimum of 80 people, but often expand to well over 100! As we speak to family members, we also ensure that valuable family dynamics, stories, and family medical information are preserved, which is so valuable for a child’s future. Each family member will have the option to support that child in any way they are able to or wish. This could be anything from regular phone calls, visits, and assistance with transportation, to wanting to be considered as a placement option for the child.

As potential placement providers are identified, we will assist in ensuring the reconnection process is initiated and preparing the family for the child to enter their home. Not only are we providing tangible items, but more importantly, those intangibles. We have learned that the most important component for a successful placement is ensuring that families have both community and natural supports. This will allow relatives to engage and be part of the child’s support system. The hope is that these supports will remain in place for that child throughout their lifetime.

Program Goals

Family Connections is committed to creating a comprehensive list of placement options and connections for each child, ensuring they find the most suitable and nurturing home among their relatives. Our team embodies an unwavering “whatever it takes” attitude, constantly innovating and tailoring strategies to meet the unique needs of every family we serve.

Contact

Joel Friesen – Director of Family Connections
1750 South Brentwood Boulevard, Suite 210, Saint Louis, MO 63144
o 314.367.8373
e joelfriesen@foster-adopt.org