Santa Barbara's Angel's Foster Care and Partners Launch Family and Friends Together

Independent | July 30, 2023
By Callie Fausey

Foster mom in the Santa Maria Valley, Cynthia, shared her struggles with raising children. With three girls of her own, Cynthia decided to provide kinship care for a relative's three children. Witnessing it first hand, Cynthia shared her difficulties with preparedness, education, and uncertainties. Struggles like these are initially what led Angels Foster Care to begin FFT – Family & Friends Together, a kinship program that provides intensive, trauma-informed support to kinship caregivers in Santa Barbara County.

A new program is providing support to grandparents and other relatives who are fostering

KCLU | July 18, 2023
By Caroline Feraday

Angels Foster Care’s recently launched their kinship program, Family & Friends Together (FFT), which provides support to grandparents and other relatives who are fostering. Executive Director Holly Carmody shared, "The family might be a bit overwhelmed, particularly at the time of placement and they could, perhaps, use extra support.” Supporting families gives the fostered child an opportunity to thrive in their kinship care home at a consequential time in their lives.

Angels Foster Care Partners with CWS and Local Foundations to Launch New Kinship Care Program

Amigos 805 | Jul 14, 2023

Angels Foster Care announced the launch of Family & Friends Together (FFT), a kinship care program that provides multigenerational support to kinship families for foster children in Santa Barbara County. FFT provides case management, education, referrals, and therapeutic intervention to caregivers and children they are fostering. Executive Director of Angels Foster Care, Holly Carmody, shared the unique challenges that families face in foster care. Referred to FFT by Child Welfare Services, Angels’ kinship program has helped seven families thus far since its launch this March.

Art and Angels Over Lunch

Art and Angels Over Lunch Montecito Journal | May 9, 2023
By Richard Mineards

Local Santa Barbara doctor, Michael Behrman and his wife Sonia, hosted Angels’ Al Fresco Luncheon at their Hope Ranch estate. With over 320 guests, Angels’ fundraised a record breaking $200,000. Since the non-profit was founded in 2006, Angels Foster Care has placed 306 infants and toddlers into stable and loving foster homes, with 149 of those children being adopted by their Angels families

Angels Foster Care Celebrates 300th Child Placement

Noozhawk | January 27, 2023
Source: Daniella Alkobi

With the new year, Angels Foster Care celebrates their 300th child placement since establishment in 2006. As the number of children in foster homes is on the rise, Angels thank their donors, board members, and volunteers who have supported the mission of Angels. Kim and Jared Faraudo, who fostered the 300th child with Angels Foster Care, recognize the opportunity to welcome children into their home and show them love and support, as a gift.

Angels Foster Care Provides Loving Homes for Infants and Toddlers who have been Abused and Neglected

Noozhawk | November 17, 2022
Source: Haley Michaelson

As the only Foster Family Agency in Santa Barbara, Angels Foster Care serves young children and infants, providing them with stable and loving homes. Angels trains and supports exceptional resource families who can provide these needs in the community. Angels was founded in 2006 by Meichelle Arntz, who began her journey as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for two young brothers. Arntz was inspired to begin Angels, after seeing the devastating effects unstable foster homes have on children.

Artists Help Draw in Record Donations At Angels Foster Care Benefit

Noozhawk | May 31, 2022
Source: Holly Carmody

Raising more than $200,000, Angels Foster Care hosted their ninth annual Al Fresco Luncheon at Hope Ranch estate. Angels Artisans highlighted local Santa Barbara artists, as they painted in real time to raise money for the organization. Since establishing the non profit in 2006, Angels Foster Care has placed 295 foster infants into stable and loving homes.

Angels & Hope

Montecito Journal | May 17, 2022
By Richards Mineards

Angels Foster Care hosted their Al Fresco Luncheon for the first time in three years since the pandemic. The event took place at Hope Ranch, at Michael and Sonia Behrmen’s home, whom are foster parents themselves with Angels. The luncheon raised over $100,000 with 255 guests purchasing art painted on-scene by local artists to raise funds for charity.

Being called mom: Orcutt mother shares journey to motherhood through adoption

Lompoc Record | April 4, 2023
By Lisa Andre

Being called “mom” is not something that is taken for granted, especially for Sara Fernandez. In 2017, Ezra was born and soon after the first to give Fernandez the title “mom.” Due to complications from his premature birth, Ezra passed away at only seven months old. The Fernandez’s have since fostered and adopted another child, Lucas, with Angels Foster Care They now honor Ezra’s life with the Lionheart Legacy Fund, supporting fostered children with specialized needs.

Angels Foster Care New Website Designed to Attract More Loving Families

Noozhawk | February 8, 2021
Source: Holly Carmody

A new website design was created for Angels Foster Care by Jennifer Wong, who herself had her own experiences in foster care. The website, for Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County, was created pro bono, to “have a voice for those who aren’t represented.”

SBAOR Events Committee Raises Funds for Angels Foster Care

Independant | July 16, 2019
By Thomas C. Schultheis

The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS held a golf tournament that raised $46,500 to benefit non-profit Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara. This tournament is SBAOR’s largest annual fundraiser, organized by the association’s all-volunteer events

Locals Launch Project to Inform the Community of Foster Care

Edhat Santa Barbara | May 31, 2019
By Kara Pearson

Santa Barbara locals Nathanael and Christina Matanick released their latest book at Ace Rivington. Partnering with the store's owner, Beau Lawrence, they donated part of their profits towards Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara. Their book, titled Listen, is a compilation of true stories, poems, and artwork about being in the foster care system. The Matanick's hope with their newest release, Listen, is to bring comfort and awareness to those currently in the system and those around it.

Angels Al Fresco - Montecito

Montecito Journal | April 18, 2019
By Richard Mineards

Angel Foster Care’s thirteen-year-old charity celebrated family Sara and Eric Fernandez, presenting them with the The Lionheart Legacy Remembrance Award. This award is an initiative dedicated to aiding Angels children with developmental challenges.

Angels Foster Care 'Al Fresco' Afternoon Luncheon Honors Parents Sara and Eric Fernandez

Noozhawk | April 13, 2019
By Rochelle Rose

Angels’ eighth annual “Al Fresco Luncheon” took place at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore in Montecito on a sunny Friday afternoon. About 250 guests attended, where Angels Foster Care Executive Director Holly Carmody presented the Corporate Sponsor Awards. Angels parents Sara and Eriz Fernandez, who have fostered five Angels children and adopted two, shared their story full of love and compassion.