Alaska Center for Resource Families

Alaska Center for Resource Families (ACRF) plays a vital role in Alaska’s child welfare system.

ACRF is the state’s designated provider of support, education, and training for foster, adoptive, guardianship, kinship, and relative caregivers. Through our partnership with the Office of Children’s Services, ACRF provides the education and training required for foster care licensing. Nearly every family preparing to welcome a child through foster care or adoption begins their journey with us, gaining the knowledge, skills, and support needed to help children and youth thrive.

Our work reaches every corner of the state. We use training strategies designed to connect with families in Alaska’s most rural and remote communities, ensuring geography is not a barrier to becoming a prepared and supported caregiver.

Founded in Fairbanks in 1988, ACRF is funded by the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, private foundations, and individual donors. Our team brings expertise in adult education and training, case management, distance education, and family support to help families strengthen Tribal, cultural, and community connections.

ACRF partners with Alaska Native Tribes and community leaders to offer training and resources that strengthen cultural connections and support positive outcomes for Alaska Native children and youth in care.

With offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Mat-Su, ACRF serves families across Alaska through in-person, phone, and online support.

Alaska programs and services

• Foster care training and licensing support: delivering state-required caregiver and family training.
• Foster, adoption, guardianship, and kinship support: providing guidance for becoming a foster parent, pre- and post-adoption training, support groups, individualized support to help caregivers meet the needs of youth in their care, and connections to state and local services.
• Alaska Native resources: partnering with local Tribes and Alaska Native leaders to support resource families caring for Alaska Native children and youth and strengthen cultural connections.
• Foster a Future program: recruiting caregivers and families for this State of Alaska program.
• Preparation of Adoption Readiness for Kids in Alaska (PARKA) project: training and supporting families intentionally matched with youth through the permanency path.