Better Together
After gathering research from over 40 foster care organizations around Alabama, Foster Coalition was established in March 2021 to unite local advocates of foster care to solve the crucial physical, emotional, and educational needs of the 5,000 to 10,000 children in foster care.
The following national foster statistics provide a motivational source to improve situations in the foster system:
- 1 in 184 children has been in the foster system.
- Between 5,000 and 10,000 are in Alabama foster care on any given day. Visit Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) for current statistics: Alabama DHR Foster Care.
- 65% of children rescued from sex trafficking have been in foster care. Their life expectancy is only seven years.
- 70% of people in prison in many states have been in foster care.
- 76% of foster children are reunited with their family in the allotted processing period IF they have only ONE DHR caseworker. It drops to 20% when there is more than one caseworker, and an extended stay in the system.
- 20% of the aged-out are immediately homeless.
- 50% of the aged out do not have a legal means of support after five years.
- And it goes on and on!! More statistics are available on national websites, including Christian Alliance for Orphans and Promise686.
The four areas needed most to overcome these statistics shared by most foster organizations interviewed are:
More workers for the state of Alabama
3,000 for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates),4,000 long-term fosterparents, 98% more care support groups (foster, adoptive, and birth parents), 1,500 long-term mentors for aging out youth, 200 social workers for DHR (Department of Human Resources), an undetermined number of qualified trauma counselors, and volunteers for local organizations. Improvements in this area will increase the effectiveness of the foster system and meet many of the security, acceptance, and significance needs of children.
High turnover rate reduction
Currently, the foster parent turnover rate is 50%-100% per year, the DHR turnover rate is 47%, and CASA turnover rate, though undetermined, is high. Solving problems in this area will help provide security for children and increase productivity within the foster system.
Education
Information about the services each advocate organization offers and how to tap into their services, intensive training for foster parents, adoptive parents, mentors, social workers, and CASA workers so that they’ll know how the foster system works and what they are getting into. Good education produces efficiency and effectiveness of the system and provides significance for the children.
Improved communication
Local foster advocate organizations, foster parents, mentors, DHR, the legal system, and churches need better communication with one another to help meet the needs of the children they serve. The image of the foster system and foster children needs to be more positive. We’ll have radio and TV appearances to share new developments, local needs, and current events. We’ll offer a centralized database of resource organizations with contacts, social media, a blog, and podcasts to keep all informed. Good communication increases the efficiency of the foster system and public awareness of its needs, and boosts the acceptance and significance of foster children.
Foster Coalition Structure
Foster Coalition is best classified as a Catalyst Organization. It functions as an independent entity that helps local foster organizations, agencies, and ministries unite to provide effective collaborative services at a level above what they can accomplish working independently. Foster Coalition does not perform any of the united entity services. The results of a united community focused on a common goal with effective communication among themselves has historically improved the success rate between 30% and 50%, as documented in research performed by Stanford University: ssir.org/articles/entry/collective_impact.
Why Support a Catalyst Organization?
Catalyzing organizations serve multiple other organizations and causes at one time. Contributing to them means that you’re contributing to multiple entities at one time. In supporting a catalyzer, you have opportunity to catapult a community of organizations into a stronger, more resilient space.
For more information, please read Perspectives and Insight: Three Reasons to Support a Catalyzing Organization from the National Christian Foundation.
Our Foster Coalition Team
We’re passionate about our work with foster families and the organizations that support them. Foster Coalition’s founders are active in outreach and personally understand the roadblocks families face in the foster care system and beyond. Their involvement in counseling both foster care families and youth who have experienced abuse has given them direct insight into community needs.
Paul Berry
Paul Berry, Foster Coalition founder, is a retired financial planner and investment advisor with The Covenant Group, which he founded in 1988. Paul and his wife Robbie have three children and nine grandchildren. They were the founders of Safe Harbor ministry, which coaches parents of teenagers with rebellious behaviors such as drug abuse, eating disorders, self-cutting, deviant sexual behavior, anger, and violence.
Mike Ousley
Mike Ousley, Foster Coalition cofounder, is owner and president of Mike Ousley Productions. He has over thirty-seven years of experience in award-winning television production. Mike Ousley Productions is currently responsible for TV program production in several of the top fifty US markets. He is the only television producer to have twice won Billboard Magazine’s Music Video Show of the Year. Mike has strong ties through philanthropic work in Birmingham..
Board of Directors
Mike Ousley – Co-founder and entertainment producer with over 37 years experience in television production as owner of Mike Ousley Productions. He serves on boards of Owens House and Cornerstone Schools of Alabama.
Amanda Manzanilla – Children’s Policy Council Coordinator for Shelby County. Amanda has fostered and adopted children from the foster system and supports a number of aged out youth.
Jeff Cofield – Manager in Human Resources and Disability Management at Alabama Power/Southern Company.
David Sumner – Manufacturer’s Representative at Georgia Pacific. Currently studying Christian Leadership at Highlands College.
Sheila Thomas – Retired accountant. Sheila is in the process of starting a ministry at Shades Mountain Baptist Church for grandparents who are raising grandchildren.
Zack Miller – CPA, CFO of Jefferson Credit Union, former VP/Accounting Manager of Servis-First Bank, former Senior Financial Analyst of USAA, and former VP/Internal Audit Manager of BBVA.
Cory Wilson – Senior Relationship Strategist/Senior VP of PNC’s Private Bank.
Sarah Dale Harmon – Marketing Consultant for financial institutions and FI vendors. Sarah Dale and her husband have adopted four children – two sets of siblings – out of the foster system.
Megan Pughsley – Attorney at Cornelius & Valley, PC, formerly Associate Attorney with The Adoption Law Firm.
Crystal Baldwin – Teacher in Alexander City for 25 years. Retired from Alabama National Guard after 26 years of service. Crystal graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s of Education Degree from Auburn University. She is an adoptive parent and former foster parent.
Advisory Board
Tony Petelos – Former Alabama DHR Director and former mayor of Hoover, Alabama.
Samuel J. McLure – Founder of The Adoption Law Firm. He has written a book entitled, “The End of Orphan Care.”
Patti Smith – Retired Alabama Juvenile and Supreme Court Judge.
Beth Chapman – Owner of Beth Chapman & Associates. Beth is a former Secretary of State, former State Auditor, former member of a Governors cabinet, and former press secretary for a Lt. Governor.
Andy Martin – President of Providence Partners and former President of First Protective. He serves on the board of directors for Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the University of Alabama. He serves as a board member of Glenwood, Inc and Young Business Leaders.
Dr. Jim Wright – Director Emeritus at Childhaven. Jim was appointed to the Governor’s Data Oversight Committee for DHR and also served as president of Cullman County DJR Quality Assurance Committee.
Lee Kinnebrew – VP of Barber Companies, former Executive Director and board member of King’s Ranch and Hannah Home, former Executive Director and board member of Cornerstone Schools of Alabama.
Mike Schmitz – Owner of Mike Schmitz Automotive in Dothan, former Mayor of Dothan, Alabama and Chairman of Board of Education.
Staff
Kelly Alligood – Education and Communication
Event planning and coordination, education, outreach, administrative.
kelly@fostercoalition.org
Taylor Hanson – Marketing and Social Media
Marketing, press releases, social media, administrative.
taylor@fostercoalition.org
Denise Bryant – Church Development
Church foster care ministries and support, outreach and development.
denise@fostercoalition.org
Nancy Coker – Administrative Assistant
Administrative, education, events, church and donor relations.
nancy@fostercoalition.org