SEATTLE, WA 5/1/18 – YMCA of Greater Seattle is launching an innovative foster care program called Community of Fostering that will leverage local “swim & gym” YMCA branches to serve as community-based centers for foster families. Branches will provide local access points for foster parents to receive support, training, connection and healthy living activities for their families.

Highly trained staff from the social services branch, Accelerator YMCA, will work alongside local branches to recruit, train, license, and support foster families. Each location will host eight to ten foster homes, which will work together to create and maintain a YMCA Community of Fostering. Foster families will have access to unique benefits such as free YMCA membership, mental health counseling for eligible children, and 24/7 crisis support. The goal is to recruit and license 175 foster families through this new model over the next two years.

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