AAFC Aftercare
The AAFC Aftercare Program is an innovative and action planning program connecting families with organizations that can provide ongoing counseling, resources and workshops after the conference. The AAFC will assess programs and organizations to create a knowledge base and an impetus for AAFC family and community strengthening initiatives. It is unique in that it is initiated and implemented by the AAFC and participating partners for families and communities in various cities across the country and utilizes filming as a key outcome model component.
The Aftercare Program delivers needs assessment and action plans for families and communities. Data and analysis compiled from the program will provide AAFC sponsors, practitioners, government agencies, researchers and the community with unique perspectives on the nature, values, environment and impact of the AAFC Aftercare Program, the challenges faced by families, and aspects of the Aftercare Program that can be enhanced.
The Aftercare Program entails, amongst others, a set of participatory research and consultation activities. This will ensure that dialogue among participating programs on how to best strengthen the Aftercare Program is grounded in an accurate and commonly-agreed upon assessment of its reality. As a result of this dialogue, an action agenda on specific Aftercare Program strengthening activities will be generated. This agenda holds the promise to serve as a crucial road map on how to strengthen the Aftercare Program, participating partners, organizations, families and communities alike.
Therefore, the AAFC Aftercare Program is not a conventional research exercise. The AAFC seeks to empower families through the promotion of knowledge-sharing, dialogue, collective learning and action-planning.
Being part of a nationwide comparative program, participating partners will also gain valuable insights from other partnering entities on how to effectively strengthen families and communities.
Background and Justification
Despite the increasing number of organizations with development initiatives for families, there is an increasing lack of a body of knowledge about the characteristics, roles and impact of these organizations and their guidance of communities to positive social change. Well before the current economic state, community based organizatons and programs were facing funding issues forcing them to downsize their programs or in many cases close their doors. On the other hand, families and communities do not receive the appropriate assistance due to lack of knowledge/awareness or misinformation. Acknowledgment of this is crucial in order to understand and form those strategies and activities within programs that will be key to assisting and educating families.
The AAFC aims to address these needs by conducting a participatory needs assessment and action planning exercise for the Aftercare Program partners and participants. This is an innovative action-planning project that is initiated and implemented by the AAFC and actively involves a broad range of participants including government representatives, the business community, academia and the community at large in all phases of the project.
Project Approach
The AAFC Aftercare Program uses a unique approach which places strong emphasis on widespread and meaningful participation between families and programs. Connection is key and reinforced via the AAFC. A broad range of entities will support the initiative ranging from, professional organizations, social movements, and representatives from government agencies, private sectors and universities. The AAFC will continually promote the efforts of the partners to families and communities via various outreach and media campaigns.
Sponsorship dollars from the AAFC as well as donations, membership drives and fundraisers will provide the necessary funding to conduct free workshops and resources via the Aftercare Program.
Join the AAFC Aftercare Program
To become an AAFC Aftercare Partner, call our office 888-317-0724 or send an e-mail to info@AfricanAmericanFamilyConference.com. Upon our receipt and review, one of our representatives will call you to schedule a meeting to further define your participation in the Aftercare Program.
We thank you in advance for your participation in this much needed initiative and encourage you to support The AAFC Aftercare Program!
The AAFC and After Care Program is open to all family structures, cultures, religious, and diverse backgrounds.
