ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif., Feb. 23, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canyon Acres Children and Family Services, a charity organization committed to providing homes, care, treatment and supportive services for abused, neglected and emotionally troubled children and their families, today announced a renewed appeal to communities in Orange County and beyond to support vital programs for children in need. Recent State budget cuts have affected Orange County's children service programs to the extent that community support is critical to keep life-changing programs like Canyon Acres' successful Creating Family Connections Program (CFC) in operation. Indeed, in a recent letter from the Director of Orange County's Social Services Agency to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Canyon Acres was lauded for developing, implementing and maintaining innovative programs "despite budgetary constraints."
In collaboration with Orange County Social Services, Canyon Acres developed CFC in 2004 to find family for dependent children who have little or no relationship with kin. In this innovative program, specialized staff utilize sophisticated search techniques to locate long-lost family members of children who have been in the child welfare system for many years. Children who have been reunited with family and maintain that relational support are generally found to experience greater success in life. CFC's primary goal is to restore the youth to his or her roots, providing an enriched sense of identity and belonging. The program supports the family in engaging with the youth in whatever way they are able. CFC also gives each person involved with the child an opportunity to make a life-changing difference.
"Canyon Acres is committed to providing hope, love and care to abused and neglected children in need of safe and stable homes," said Clete Menke, President of Canyon Acres. "The agency is currently reaching out to the community to join in its mission of caring and to support its endeavors to create a brighter future for these special kids."
Over the last couple of years, CFC has served over 100 children, found more than 1,000 family members and engaged more than 500 of those family members into the children's lives.
One of CFC's success stories centers on a boy named Ricky. At the age of five, Ricky was taken away from his birth parents due to severe neglect and physical and sexual abuse; he was found caked in dirt in an inoperable laundry room with no food or water. His mother was homeless, and she worked as a prostitute and drug dealer. His father was in prison. Ricky received a variety of placements until he emancipated at age 18. Having nowhere to turn, Ricky began living on the streets. He was then referred to Canyon Acres.
The CFC team conducted an extensive search and managed to find out-of-state family members. Within two weeks, the team was able to organize a meeting. The team flew Ricky to Arizona where more than 15 family members attended the meeting and welcomed Ricky with open arms. The entire operation gave Ricky and many others like him a new beginning in life.
For more information on CFC or to make a donation, please visit www.canyonacres.org.
ABOUT CANYON ACRES
Canyon Acres Children and Family Services has been serving children throughout Orange County since 1980 providing the highest level of care and therapeutic treatment to children who suffer from a variety of emotional and psychological disorders. Canyon Acres gives children nurturing, treatment, and opportunities that they need to grow up in safe, loving, and stable families. For more information about Canyon Acres Children and Family Services, contact Bock Communications at + 1-714-540-1030 or canyonacres@bockpr.com or visit the Canyon Acres Children and Family Services web site at www.canyonacres.org.