Crisis Care Packages Program (Angel Bags)

The Crisis Care Package (CCP) or Angel Bags was the first support service offered by Angels for the forgotten inc, it is still the core service at present through all Angels branches. 
Crisis Care Packages were originally designed to be given to children who have been removed from their families and placed into out-of-home care. 

In response to an overwhelming need for support, the program was expanded in 2011 to also provide Angel bags to family's fleeing domestic violence or those affected by a disaster.
It is a sad reality that thousands of women and children flee their homes due to unthinkable abuse, neglect and violence.

Most will flee with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, and without warning.
The Angel bags provide a glimmer of Hope in an otherwise traumatic and overwhelming situation.

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"Arriving in the refuge was such an emotional time , the kids and i had nothing ! when the worker gave each of us our Angel Bags i couldn't help but cry, the contents of those bags was everything that we now owned."

Whats in the Angel Bags ?
The CCP is designed to be given to the child / family en route to their first placement or on arrival in a crisis service such as a refuge.
Each package targets 3 key areas;

• Self help or self soothing
• Personal hygiene and self esteem
• Emotional well-being and a sense of ownership

All packages are made gender and age appropriate and as needed, sensitive to cultural needs.

"As a rural Foster Carer the Angel bags are a wonderful support. We live over 1 hour from the nearest supermarket so when a child arrives its wonderful to know the Angel bag has enough supplies to get through that very tricky first 24hrs"
                              Jane Riverina foster carer.

Items Needed for Care packages.

• Nappies, Wet wipes, Bottles

• blankets, baby wraps
  
• Pacifier/dummy, Baby wash
• Teddy bears
• books ( all ages) , stationary
  
• Powder, nappy cream, hand lotion
• Shampoo, conditioner, soap
• Roll on deodorants, Sanitary items
• Hair brushes, combs, hair ties and clips.
• Journals, Scrap books, stickers
  
• travel games, bubbles, play doh
  
• Drink bottles, sipper cups
• Lip balm, toothpaste, toothbrushes
• Underwear, socks PJ's
• Comfy clothing like t-shirts, shorts, jumpers, leggings or track pants.
• Tissues, Face washers, towels
  

Mental Health.

An Age specific Mental Health Pack is added to each Angel bag for persons 12 years and over.
The pack contains a range of age and gender appropriate resources from  Beyond Blue, Reach Out & Head-space and domestic violence support services.

Program Figures:

Since 2010 Angels for the forgotten has provided over 15,000 Angel bags to children, youth women and men in crisis.
The graphics below show the breakdown of where the 15,321 care packages have been distributed by age , gender and need between December 2010 and December 2014.