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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2017
Governor Mary Fallin Announces
Partnership between her Oklahoma Fosters Initiative and DHS and the Oklahoma
Alliance of YMCAs to Benefit Foster Families
TULSA – Governor Mary
Fallin today announced a new public-private partnership to benefit all Oklahoma
foster families. Beginning today, the Oklahoma Alliance of YMCAs is partnering
with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) and the governor’s
Oklahoma Fosters initiative to launch
the “YMCA Benefit Program” for Oklahoma foster families. This new program will
provide discounted services at YMCAs across the state to all foster parents
providing care to children in state custody.
“Finding foster families for the hundreds of children who
come into state custody every year has long been a priority of mine,” said
Fallin. “I’m grateful to the Oklahoma Alliance of YMCA for partnering with my
Oklahoma Fosters initiative and DHS to create these special benefits for foster
families. We are always looking for more foster families, especially here in
Tulsa, and I hope this announcement helps to encourage more people to consider
this incredibly rewarding commitment.”
All certified foster families will have access to various
discounts including: 50 percent off membership and joining fees for
family/household memberships; 50 percent off sports and aquatic fees; and,
financial assistance for day camp, after-school programs and child care. Tuition assistance will be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis and subject to eligibility for and availability of services
at each YMCA location.
“At
the YMCA, we believe that when we build strong kids and strong families, we
build strong communities – and we recognize that when our fellow citizens
struggle, we all struggle,” said Susan Plank, chair of the Oklahoma Alliance of
YMCAs and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. “That’s why
when we learned about the governor’s special initiative to support foster
families we knew it was something we wanted to be a part of and support. My
fellow ‘Y’ Leaders and I are honored to welcome foster families to our associations
and lend ourselves as a resource to the important work these families do to
help build strong kids and strong families.”
In addition, YMCAs across the state will also be hosting
Heart Galleries in their facilities, which are photo displays of children in
foster care who are waiting to be adopted. In March and April, there will be a Heart
Gallery at the Tandy Family YMCA of Tulsa, the Mitch Park YMCA in Edmond, the
Cleveland County Family YMCA, the Great Plains Family YMCA in Weatherford, and
the Ponca City YMCA.
“DHS is thankful for the generosity of the Oklahoma Alliance
of YMCA for providing these discounts to our foster families,” said DHS
Director Ed Lake. “We are excited about this partnership and how it will honor
foster families for the care they provide to our children every day.”
About the Oklahoma Fosters initiative
Oklahoma Fosters is a joint partnership with Governor Fallin
and DHS launched in November 2015 with the goal of recruiting new foster and
adoptive families to better serve children in state custody.
The Oklahoma Fosters initiative unites government, business,
nonprofits and the faith community in order to change the narrative around
fostering, to recruit safe, loving foster and adoptive families statewide, and
to provide ongoing support to the foster care community.
About the Oklahoma Alliance
of YMCAs
The
purpose of the Oklahoma Alliance of YMCAs is to represent the collective voice
and leverage the collective impact of all 13 independent Oklahoma YMCAs; foster
statewide communication and collaboration; and inspire, nurture and strengthen
communities by advancing youth development, healthy living and social
responsibility through advocacy, programming and collaboration.
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