About Alternative Family Services

Since 1978, AFS has been serving the diverse and varied needs of thousands of children, youth, and families. Currently, AFS annually cares for approximately 1,500 youth through the following services accredited by COA: foster care, mental health, adoption, transition age youth, professional training, emergency shelter and juvenile justice youth.

AFS staff, board members, resource parents, corporate/community partners, and financial supporters make up our compassionate network who work together to help youth in care reclaim their sense of possibilities within safe, stable, and caring environments. AFS employs approximately 200 staff members from more than 12 countries, with education ranging from high school graduates to PhDs who provide a wide range of services in English and Spanish.

AFS’ successful history, now spanning almost half a century, would not have been possible without the selfless generosity of the original visionaries at Huckleberry House (San Francisco), the dozens of volunteer board members, innumerable staff members, thousands of foster parents, respite workers, and volunteers. All of these folks not only helped kids directly, but they also left their mark in the ongoing development of our values and practices moving forward.