A Second Chance, Inc.

Description

The agency began its operations in July of 1994 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 175.

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 10,500 children have received services through ASCI.

ASCI began as a vision of President and CEO Dr. Sharon McDaniel 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.