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.

Angels Foster Care on KZSB am1290

KZSB am1290 | June 19, 2019
by Samantha Dayak

Holly Carmody, Angels Foster Care's Executive Director, and Shelly Rickhard, an Angels Alum parent, had the opportunity to talk on the AHA Presents About Education radio show about our kiddos and families on the air. They were able to share the mission of Angels Foster Care and inspiring stories from our very own Angels families. Thank you to Neil Kreisel and Lisa Newman for having Angels Foster Care on the show! Click here to listen to the interview.

Babies In Need

Independent | April 4, 2018
by Holly Carmody

Kudos to Kelsey Brugger for her excellent article about the flood of meth-addicted and exposed babies entering Santa Barbara’s foster care system. The 30 babies mentioned in the article, and the tidal wave of infants and toddlers who will follow them into foster care, need safe, stable homes while their parents struggle with drug addiction. I hope Brugger’s article inspired readers to advocate as CASA volunteers for these children. I hope that the article also will inspire readers to consider fostering a baby or toddler.

Holly Carmody is the executive director of Angels Foster Care.

Angels Foster Care Fundraiser Shifts to September

Angels Foster Care's annual Al Fresco — Angels by the Sea luncheon has been postponed due to the recent Thomas Fire and mudslides. The new date is Sept. 14 in the gardens at The Four Seasons Biltmore in Montecito.

This year, the nonprofit will be honoring Meichelle Arntz, its founder and recently retired executive director, for her dedication, love and tireless efforts to ensure babies and toddlers in foster care are nurtured in safe, stable, and intensively supported homes.

Angels Foster Care also will recognize and thank the Angels parents who work as first responders in our community.

All proceeds from the event will go directly to support abused and neglected infants and toddlers, and their foster families in Santa Barbara County.

Angels Foster Care families have cared for more than 230 young foster children since the program started in 2006.Angels Foster Care is a private, nonprofit Santa Barbara County Foster Family Agency that serves local foster children from birth to age three, and their siblings up to age five. Angels provides extensive training and support for resource/foster parents.

Families interested foster providing foster care for an infant or toddler, or fostering then adopting, can visit www.angelsfostercare.org or call 884-0012.

Davina Gomez named to Angels Foster Care Board

Noozhawk.com | March 20, 2018
by Erika Fischer-Corners

Davina Gomez Appointed to Angels Foster Care Board of Directors

Santa Barbara, California, March 16, 2018 - Angels Foster Care is proud to announce that Davina Gomez has joined the Board of Directors.

Gomez, who is passionate about helping children in foster care, said, “There is nothing more important to me than the safety and security of children. Babies who have been abused or neglected need caring families to provide love and stability. Every baby in our county deserves the best possible start in life.”

Gomez is a Human Resource Generalist at Montecito Bank & Trust and holds an MA in Organizational Leadership. She is a lifelong resident of Santa Maria where she has volunteered with Boys & Girls Club of Santa Maria Valley, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Santa Maria Elks and the United Way.

According to Holly Carmody, Executive Director of Angels Foster Care, “We are excited that Davina has decided to join our Board. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her expertise in building employer-to-employee relationships, increasing employee satisfaction, and promoting a positive and healthy work environment is extremely valuable.”

Angels Foster Care is a private, nonprofit Santa Barbara County Foster Family Agency that serves local foster infants and toddlers from birth to age three, and their siblings up to age five. Angels Foster Care provides extensive training and support for resource/foster parents. Families who want to make a difference in the life of a foster baby or toddler by providing foster care, or fostering then adopting, are urged to visit and learn more at www.angelsfostercare.org or call 805-884-0012.

Read the article here.

Susan McMillan Retires from Angels Foster Care

Noozhawk | March 10, 2018
by Holly Carmody

Susan McMillan has retired from the Angels Foster Care Board of Directors. She has been a board member since 2012, and most recently served as secretary/treasurer.

“We are very thankful for Susan’s many years of service to Angels Foster Care," said Angels Foster Care’s founder, Meichelle Arntz.

"She cares deeply about helping children in need, and her leadership has helped us provide safe, loving homes for hundreds of local foster babies and toddlers,” Arntz said.

McMillan learned about Angels Foster Care when a friend invited her to join the fundraising committee. The organization’s approach to providing compassionate services to an at-risk population resonated with her.

“It has been an honor to serve on the Angels Foster Care Board," McMillan said. "I cannot think of a better way to create a brighter future for our community.

"This organization helps our most vulnerable population — babies between the ages of birth and 3 years old. Angels Foster Care puts these children on a path to success later in life.”

McMillan and her husband Tom Kenny have two children, Caroline, 11, and Lauren, 7.

Before moving to Santa Barbara, McMillan spent almost two decades in New York working in the investment banking division of large financial institutions including Credit Suisse and CitiGroup/Smith Barney.

She is currently a partner in a real estate holding company with multifamily assets in Santa Barbara, a founding board member of the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation (MOXI), and member of the Hope Ranch Board of Directors.

Current Angels Foster Care Board members are Megan Orloff, president; Susan McCollum, vice president; Shelise Paulson, secretary/treasurer.

Angels Foster Care is a private, nonprofit Santa Barbara County Foster Family Agency that serves local foster children from birth to age 3, and their siblings up to age 5.

Angels provides training and support for resource/foster parents. Families who are interested in providing foster care to a baby or toddler, or fostering then adopting, can visit www.angelsfostercare.org or call 884-0012.

PivIT Global Helps Foster Familes with Donations to Angels Foster Care

Noozhawk | February 14, 2018
by Holly Carmody

PivIT Global, an IT solutions provider and supporter of children in foster care, is giving back to the Santa Barbara community with a donation of new portable play yards, baby carriers, diaper bags and baby bottles.

Angels Foster Care will distribute the baby-care supplies to local families who are fostering infants and toddlers.

PivIT Global’s donation will be a big help to Angels families, said Holly Carmody, executive director of Angels Foster Care,

“We want to thank PivIT Global. Buying gear for a baby can really strain a family’s budget. Angels Foster Care parents will be delighted to receive these supplies,” Carmody said.

PIVIT GLOBAL was launched in July by Justin Sparks, Joe Zender, Mike McKay and Troy Jacobsen of Santa Barbara.

In addition to providing IT hardware, maintenance, and professional solutions, PivIT Global said it is committed to serving a larger social purpose.

PivIT's founders have been involved in the foster system for years and are passionate about supporting children in foster care, PivIT said.

A percentage of every sale PivIT makes goes directly to supporting foster families and the organizations dedicated to providing stable, loving homes for foster children. Jacobsen said PivIT Global is happy to contribute.

“Every baby deserves a safe home and a caring family," he said. "Our donation to Angels Foster Care will support families who have stepped in to help the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community.”

Angels Foster Care is a private, nonprofit Santa Barbara County Foster Family Agency that serves local foster children from birth to age three, and their siblings up to age five.

The agency finds families for infants and toddlers removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Angels provides training and support for parents who welcome foster children into their families.

Each family takes just one placement at a time and agrees to care for their foster child until the dependency court makes a decision about the child’s permanent home, Angels Care said.

For more information about providing foster care to a baby or toddler, or fostering, then adopting, visit www.angelsfostercare.org or call 884-0012.

— Holly Carmody for Angels Foster Care.