Alternative Family Services has deep roots in the Bay Area’s history of community-based care. AFS began in 1973 as a project within Huckleberry House, the San Francisco runaway shelter, when Jay Berlin was hired to lead the Alternative Living Program, a foster care program designed to create “alternative” living situations for teens. Jay envisioned something broader: a program that would support not only young people, but the whole family. With Huckleberry’s blessing, Alternative Family Services officially opened its doors on July 1, 1978, carrying forward the children, foster families, staff, and values that helped shape the organization from the beginning.
For nearly five decades, Jay’s leadership helped define AFS’s commitment to compassion, innovation, and family-centered care. That founding vision continues today as AFS supports children, youth, young adults, and families through foster care, behavioral health, adoption and permanency support, transition-age youth programs, emergency shelter, juvenile justice services, and professional training. Across our programs, we work to meet people where they are, strengthen connections, and help children and families access the relationships, resources, and supports that contribute to lasting wellbeing.
In 2022, Marsha Lewis-Akyeem became Chief Executive Officer of AFS, bringing more than twenty years of experience across child welfare, children’s specialty mental health services, juvenile probation, and education. Under her leadership, AFS continues to evolve in response to the needs of children, youth, and families while advancing strategic priorities that strengthen programs, deepen partnerships, improve impact measurement, and support long-term organizational sustainability. Guided by our mission, HEARTS values, and North Star that each engaged child or family in our care gets connected to at least one natural support, AFS remains committed to a world where every child and family is connected, thriving, and hopeful.
AFS Timeline - PDF click here
