The Agency History
The agency began its
operations in a reconverted church rectory located in North Braddock,
PA. In August of 1995, the agency moved to its current facility located
at 8350 Frankstown Avenue. Beginning with just a handful of dedicated
personnel, the agency has grown to a staff of 125.
ASCI operates as a community-based entity whereby all regional offices
of Allegheny CYF can refer families, children and youth for holistic professional
services. During the first year of service, a total of 375 families (representing
572 children age 0 - 18), became involved with the variety of program
services offered by the agency. In its short tenure over 4500 children
have received services through ASCI.
ASCI began as a vision of President and CEO Dr. Sharon Lowe while serving
in another professional capacity. It was there that she saw firsthand
the disparity between the large number of African-American children requiring
out-of-home placement care, with the availability of African-American
families providing such care. Some other concerns included the lack of
concentrated efforts by the child welfare system to recruit African-American
foster adoptive families, the absence of strong, viable support systems
to African-American families already in the system, and the failure to
acknowledge relative placements as a viable resource to children.
ASCI in cooperation with the office of Allegheny CYF provides a full range
of kinship care services that are operated under the regulations and requirements
of the Allegheny County Foster Care Task Force. Some of the agency's services
include, but are not limited to, the following: EPSDT (medical screening),
intensive kinship care training, crisis intervention information/referral
services, continuity of services, counseling and other support services.
What is unique about this agency compared to other related organizations
is that this is the first program in the Commonwealth that exclusively
offers such services to kinship families through a private, non profit
entity.