The Many Benefits of School-Based Services
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting youth and families before they enter the child welfare system, Alternative Family Services (AFS) provides school-based services as part of our broader community-based care model. These services bring essential support directly to schools, creating opportunities for prevention, early intervention, and connection.
AFS is proud to offer school-based services and other community-level support. To learn more or contact us, email info@afs4kids.org or call (800) 300-1022.
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting youth and families before they enter the child welfare system, Alternative Family Services (AFS) provides school-based services as part of our broader community-based care model. These services bring essential support directly to schools, creating opportunities for prevention, early intervention, and connection.
The Vital Role of Schools and Community
At AFS, our community-based services model ensures that youth and families throughout Northern California receive care in environments that feel accessible and familiar. For many young people, meeting at school, rather than traveling to an office, can ease stress, remove logistical barriers, and encourage participation.
By working within schools, AFS staff gain valuable insight into the real-world challenges students face each day. Observing their environments firsthand helps identify unmet needs and tailor interventions more effectively. Because school is where youth spend much of their day, it’s also a natural setting for consistent, meaningful support.
School-based services also improve coordination and access. When a family’s housing situation is unstable or transportation is limited, meeting at school offers a consistent and practical solution.
Teachers and other school personnel also play a key role in this approach. Educators often notice early warning signs, behavioral changes, academic struggles, or emotional distress that others may miss. By partnering closely with school staff, AFS ensures that support reaches youth early, before challenges escalate into crises.
Trust is also an essential element. Families may view school personnel as familiar and safe, making them more open to accepting help from AFS professionals who collaborate within that trusted environment. This partnership-centered model helps strengthen engagement and outcomes for youth and families alike.
The Power of Prevention and Wraparound Care
Across the field of child welfare, there is a growing shift toward preventative care, offering support before families reach a point of crisis. Entering foster care can be deeply traumatic, even in cases where it is necessary for safety. By investing in early intervention, AFS works to prevent that trauma whenever possible.
School-based and community-based programs are key to that mission. Through wraparound services, youth and families can access holistic support that addresses the full range of needs, from housing stability and mental health to employment, behavioral health, and family strengthening.
For many families, school is the ideal hub for this wraparound care. It’s a place where trust, consistency, and collaboration naturally intersect.
In 2023, AFS expanded its preventative care network by joining Enhanced Care Management (ECM), a program designed to connect youth and families to essential services more efficiently and holistically. Learn more about ECM at: https://www.afs4kids.org/blog/qa-on-enhanced-care-management-at-afs/.
AFS is proud to offer school-based services and other community-level support. To learn more and get in touch, send us an email at info@afs4kids.org or call us at (800) 300-1022.
