ORANGE : Bush Honors Foster Children’s Group

Advanced Resources for Foster Kids, a nonprofit group which helps meet the needs of foster families, was recognized this week by President Bush’s “Daily Point of Light” program.

The group, the 455th to be designated a “Point of Light,” has 80 volunteers who teach foster parents how to better serve the emotional, physical and psychological needs of their children. The group was founded in 1984 to help the large number of foster children who move from home to home.

The organization was recognized for its services, which range from recreational activities at the center to serving as “family friends.” The Short Term Assistance Response Team is also available for crisis intervention to help foster families deal with emergency situations.

“We are just excited,” said the group’s Executive Director Liz Lafferty, adding that about 200 organizations are nominated each week. “After all the hard work that has been done, this is a big stamp of approval.”