San Diego Launches Foster Care Coalition

February 2006

Having already increased awareness for the need to keep foster and adoptive children in their own neighborhoods in New York City, True Insight brings its expertise to the West Coast.

With more than 6,400 children needing permanent homes, San Diego County has the state's second largest number of youth in care. For the last 18 months, the Neighborhoods for Kids program has led to more foster youth remaining in their neighborhoods, which has resulted in increased high school completion rates from 60% to 89%.

Hoping to build on this success, the county launched the San Diego Foster Care Coalition on February 7 in Santee, CA. The goal of the coalition of county officials, non-profits and community leaders is to inspire immediate local action on behalf of foster youth by providing them with lifelong connections.

True Insight Marketing played an instrumental role in the launch of this coalition, bringing all fifteen partners together, providing leadership, organizational support, project management and creative content. The company was responsible for creating all marketing materials (see above) and also assisted with handling media contacts.

By creating New York City's program Circle of Support, True Insight has clearly shown how much foster care can benefit from creating ties to the local community. "We were brought in to help develop awareness for the innovative Neighborhoods for Kids program", explains True Insight President Daniel Stein. "Based on our previous work with New York support groups, we were able to transfer that knowledge to San Diego. We created a broad-scale partnership with people who were not previously engaged in foster care, such as schools, businesses, faith-based and other community organizations."

From the East County Californian, February 2, 2006:
"The coalition's event will focus on creating ties with the general community to further extend support and educate more of the community. 'There are different ways people can become involved. Whether it's mentoring, volunteering one day a month or opening one's home as a foster parent. We are inviting leaders of the community to come to the event so that they can look at holding similar events and bring information to their respective communities,' said Erin Saberi, communications and public affairs director for Casey Family Program."

From the San Diego Union-Tribune, February 8, 2006:
"The success of a foster child depends on the stability of their situation and a strong community foundation, said Bruce Wexler, program director of the Walden Family Services, one of the coalition members. 'We've been striving for a long time to work collaboratively with each other to keep children in their communities,' he said. 'This coalition is really groundbreaking.

Resolution from Duncan Hunter, Member of Congress:
"...whereas they [15 family service agencies] have been commended on the achievements they have made and on the vital role they have played in raising awareness, recommending policy changes and providing assistance in improving older youths' opportunities to develop a lifelong connection with a committed adult before leaving foster care."

Proclamation from Bob Filner, Member of Congress:
"I do hereby proclaim February 7, 2006 as 'San Diego Foster Care Coalition Day' in the 51st Congressional District, and encourage all citizens therein to recognize and celebrate their efforts to provide stable loving homes for our children."