The NC Division of Social Services has awarded Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia a four year grant totaling $181,818 grant to serve children adopted from the foster care system and their families in ten counties in the eastern region of the state: Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Greene, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico and Pitt. Easter Seals UCP service hubs for the ten county area will be in Greenville, New Bern and Jacksonville.

The grant project, entitled Forever Families Support (Forever Families), will implement a program to maximize the potential for foster care adoptive families to build strong foundations for their success as forever families through family information and education; family support; and family care. The program goals are to maintain a safe and secure adoptive placement for special needs of children who have been adopted out of foster care system; to ensure ongoing quality services with skilled professional support; and to educate community partners, department of social services, school staff, medical and mental health providers and others regarding special needs of adoptive families and children.

As a long term provider of family and therapeutic foster care and adoption services, Easter Seals UCP is heavily embedded in child and youth advocacy and welfare and health promotion, and already has successfully supported many foster families through and beyond adoption.

About Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia

Headquartered in Raleigh, NC with programs and services throughout North Carolina and Virginia, Easter Seals UCP is a lifelong partner to families managing disabilities and mental health challenges. The nonprofit serves more than 20,000 individuals and their families annually through an array of services. Easter Seals UCP enhances the quality of life for individuals and maximizes their potential for engaging in their communities. For more information on Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia, please visit www.eastersealsucp.com.