Aviva Childrens Services

FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AVIVA CHILDREN'S SERVICES HAS WORKED TO FULFILL ITS MISSION TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF NEGLECT, ABUSE AND POVERTY AND ARE IN THE CARE OF ARIZONA'S DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY (DCS). AVIVA RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO ENHANCE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND WELL-BEING AS WELL AS SUPPLYING NECESSITY ITEMS SUCH AS CLOTHING, SHOES, BLANKETS AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS. IN APRIL 2020, AVIVA ADDED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO THIS REPERTOIRE OF SERVICES.

AVIVA CHILDREN'S SERVICES BECAME A MEDICAID-FUNDED PROVIDER OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO AHCCCS ENROLLED CLIENTS AS OF 04/01/2020. THIS PROGRAM GREW RAPIDLY IN FY21, AND BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, PROVIDED AN AVERAGE OF 3,855 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PER MONTH TO CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND KINSHIP PLACEMENTS.FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AVIVA CHILDREN'S SERVICES COMMUNITY RESOURCE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR DCS STAFF TO OBTAIN EVERYDAY NECESSITIES FOR FOSTER CHILDREN AND CHILDREN IN KINSHIP PLACEMENTS. DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE COVID19 PANDEMIC, MANY FAMILIES FACED UNPRECEDENTED FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES DURING FY21. AVIVA CHILDREN'S SERVICES (AVIVA) WAS ABLE TO STEP IN AND ENSURE NEARLY 3,000 FOSTER CHILDREN HAD THE BASIC NECESSITY ITEMS THEY NEEDED. FY21 ALSO SAW THE ADDITION OF AVIVA'S GROCERY, UTILITY, AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, AVIVA PROVIDED OVER $13,700 IN NEEDED SUPPORTS TO THE FOSTER FAMILIES AND KINSHIP PLACEMENTS CARING FOR CHILDREN INVOLVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY.IN APRIL 2021, AVIVA DEVELOPED THE NEW COMMUNITY, OUTREACH, RESOURCE, AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (CORE). THIS PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED TO HELP STRENGTHEN AND STABILIZE FOSTER AND KINSHIP FAMILIES TO HELP PREVENT DISRUPTION, AND DOES THIS BY CONNECTING FAMILIES TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE UNKNOWN TO THEM. THE CORE PROGRAM SUPPORTS FOSTER AND KINSHIP FAMILIES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE PROVIDING A LAPTOP AND TRAINING TO A KINSHIP GRANDPARENT TO ENABLE EXPENSE INVOICE SUBMISSION; CONNECTING FAMILIES TO LICENSING AGENCIES TO START THE FOSTER CARE LICENSING PROCESS, AND CONNECTING GUARDIANS TO COMMUNITY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES. OUR LIFE BOOK STAFF CREATED BEAUTIFUL BOOKS THAT TELL A FOSTER CHILD'S STORY IN A SENSITIVE, ACCURATE, AND AGE APPROPRIATE WAY. THESE BOOKS ARE DONE FOR CHILDREN THAT WILL NOT BE REUNIFIED WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL PARENT. ONE OF AVIVA'S LARGEST EVENTS IS OUR HOLIDAY TOY/GIFT EVENT. MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND IN-KIND TOY DONATIONS ALLOWED AVIVA TO PROVIDE HOLIDAY TOYS AND GIFTS TO OVER 2240 FOSTER AND KINSHIP CHILDREN IN DECEMBER 2020. THIS WAS AN INCREASE OF OVER 440 CHILDREN FROM FY20, IN SPITE OF THE COVID19 PANDEMIC.