Supporting Adoption and Foster Families Together (SAFFT) was started by actual Foster parents in Forsyth County Georgia.  Ashley and Brian Anderson founded SAFFT in January of 2009. Through years of first hand experiences as caregivers for neglected and abused children, they determined that a strong support model was required for long-term success. Few other resources were in place to truly help caregivers succeed and continue to maintain faith in the overall system. Ashley and Brian watched countless examples of good people coming into the system but quickly dropping out due to the lack of true support. Morale was low and few had faith in the children actually receiving what was needed – protection and unconditional love. The first meeting was called bringing together other foster and adoption families with a simple goal - support each other through the ups and downs of serving as caregivers for the children placed in state custody. A board was formed and the organization quickly gained momentum through a monthly small group meeting and a series of outreach programs. All board members have deep connections to the community and most have or currently are foster or adoption parents. All members of the SAFFT group have a strong belief that BUILDING and MAINTAINING a supportive foundation for all caregivers improves the overall lives of the children in care. 

 Ashley Anderson, President of SAFFT, answered a few questions regarding this new organization:

What does the organization mean to YOU, personally?

This organization means the world to me because we finally have a sense of community within each other as Foster and Adoptive parents of Forsyth County.  Before, all we had to rely upon were our caseworkers and staff at DFCS.  It is very hard to go through the ups and downs of being a Foster and Adoptive parent without a true sense of support.  I also have very strong faith in the future for the children in care of Forsyth County.  Together, we can make dreams come true and be the best homes we can be for these children in need.  Together, we can make a difference and be a voice.  Together, SAFFT can be a standard and a rock for our foster youth!

How can Forsyth County residents and business owners get involved in the organization?

Community businesses are crucial to our success. As many people know, State and Local governments are under great pressure to consolidate and cut costs. Funding for programs designed to support the children in state care are being cut or at least reduced to inadequate levels. The problem doesn’t go away just because funding is reduced and the statistics only get worse in tough economic times. We can’t do it without the help of our small business owners and generous large corporate sponsors.

We offer a very compelling corporate sponsorship program with multiple levels of giving – Founders, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. A business may donate as little as $250 and have your business name in multiple places showing your strong support for our children (i.e. t-shirts worn by the children, our banner put up at events, and/or web site links to your business).

What does SAFFT hope to accomplish in the next couple of years?

SAFFT plans to implement and support a number of programs designed to meet the overall mission of the organization – supporting the foundation of all caregivers to improve the overall lives of the children in care. The programs planned over the next two years are focused on the following goals:

• Raise funding for the children that are in foster care to expand upon their allowances further than the state allotment.
• Be able to build a community center for the children in care to spend time during the summer, after school, for events and special occasions.
• Foster a strong recruitment effort to increase the number of caregivers and spread awareness for the desperate need for quality foster and adoption homes.
• Provide much needed training services for caregivers on topics such as physical and sexual abuse, grief and loss, and behavior management.
• Support current and future legislative changes to better protect children in care
• Maintain a monthly small group meeting to truly support the State approved Foster and Adoptive parents
• Continue and to offer a Monthly “Foster/Adoptive Parent Night Out” sponsored by our dedicated “Off the Couch” group from a local church
• Establish a permanent “Donation Closet” stocked with emergency kits, clothing, toys, and other necessities available at no cost to approved caregivers
• Host regular social event outings for the families and all children in care
• Expand all successful programs beyond the Forsyth County area to support all children in the State of Georgia.

What is your contact information?

If you are interested in contacting our organization to help or better understand our purpose, please call or e-mail anytime.

Main Line: 478.394.4007
E-mail Address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it