Extended Family

09/25/2026

🌟 Extended Family for Kids Leader Training in Montgomery! 🌟

What a great day of learning, connection, and preparing to make a difference in the lives of children! 💙

Our Extended Family for Kids (EFK) Leader Training, led by Laure and Daphne, was held in Montgomery, Alabama, with 38 dedicated participants coming together to learn how to lead EFK in their schools and support students experiencing family disruption and challenging circumstances.

We are so grateful to everyone who invested their time and energy into becoming an EFK leader. Your commitment means more children will have caring adults and supportive spaces when they need them most. 💙

A special thank you to Alabama Department of Youth Services Executive Director Steve Lafreniere for being in attendance and for the Department’s continued support of Extended Family for Kids. Your partnership helps us continue expanding this important work across Alabama!

09/15/2026

YOU could attend EFK Leader Training in Montgomery! Registration deadline is 9/18, Training is 9/23. If you have a heart for children with loved ones incarcerated, this Training is for you. Learn more at

For those working in juvenile justice programs School counselors, administrators SROs and law enforcement Juvenile probation officers Children’s Advocacy Centers DHR Staff Community resource providers About Extended Family for […]

09/09/2026

🌟 STAFF SPOTLIGHT: TAMMY POINTER! 🌟

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Tammy Pointer, a valued member of the Extended Family team! 💜

Tammy is a DeKalb County resident, a proud mom of four children, a grandmother of three, and a small business owner who has spent the past seven years serving communities throughout DeKalb and Marshall counties.

Tammy brings something incredibly special to her work: lived experience, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others create a better future. Drawing from her own journey through addiction and recovery, she is passionate about supporting women who are returning to their communities and working to rebuild their lives.

Her favorite philosophy is simple but powerful:

✨ “It’s never too late to start over.” ✨

As a Reentry Assistant, Tammy helps returning citizens connect with important resources such as housing, employment, education, and community support. But beyond connecting people to resources, she provides something just as important; encouragement, advocacy, and someone who believes in them.

We are so grateful to have Tammy on our team and for the heart she brings to serving others. ❤️

08/28/2026

🎉🎂 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our Executive Director & Founder! 🎂🎉

Today, we’re celebrating an incredible leader, the BEST boss, and someone who cares so deeply about making a difference in the lives of others. 💜 She pours so much heart, passion, and dedication into Extended Family and the youth and families we serve.

Here at Extended Family, we cherish her deeply and are so thankful for her vision, leadership, and the heart she brings to everything she does. We hope your birthday is filled with all the love and joy you deserve! 💜✨

Happy Birthday! We appreciate you today and every day! 🥳🎈

08/26/2026

At Extended Family, our goal is to provide Extended Family for Kids to every child who needs it. We fulfill this goal by partnering with hosts to provide Extended Family for Kids (EFK) Leader training to caring adults who are committed to helping children develop coping skills for anger, stress, and negative behaviors. These leaders become trusted guides for youth navigating the emotional and social effects of having an incarcerated loved one or other family disruption. Training other caring adults to use the EFK Curriculum helps us reach every child who needs us, regardless of where they live.

Former participants who are now trained to lead EFK in their communities provided overwhelmingly positive comments about the one-day EFK Leader training:

“This was a very interactive training that allowed for true understanding on how the curriculum can be utilized.”

“One thing that stood out was the “pre-stuff” in the emotional continuum and it’s parallel to core beliefs in cognitive behavioral therapy. Very Cool!”

“Extended Family for Kids is a resource that I will use and implement with my children/students. As a whole, everything stood out and was very informative.”

“The overall program stands out to me. I look forward to utilizing this program with the kids I work with.”

“The techniques used were simple everyday things that are easily communicated.”

“Real stories, real experiences, real outcomes.”

“Honestly, I learned so much! From the statistics, resources, and this fantastic curriculum.”

“I think this program is great! I’ve laughed and learned so much. Best workshop I’ve ever been to!”

“This was so enjoyable, entertaining, and interesting. One of the best trainings I’ve been to!”

Every community shares the problem of having family members, including children, who are struggling with the incarceration of a loved one. Extended Family offers a solution. To register to attend our upcoming EFK Program Leader Training, September 23, hosted by the Alabama Department of Youth Services. Together, we are changing lives, one child at a time.



This Training project was supported by Subgrant #2025-JF-C1-421 awarded by the Law Enforcement/Traffic Safety Division of ADECA and the U.S. Department of Justice.

08/11/2026

Extended Family Leadership Academy is looking for community members who are passionate about investing in the lives of young people!

We're seeking guest presenters to share career insights, practical life skills, and real-world experiences with students across Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, and DeKalb Counties.

Whether you're a business owner, healthcare professional, educator, tradesperson, entrepreneur, first responder, or simply have valuable life experiences to share, your story could inspire a student's future.

Together, we can equip the next generation with the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to succeed.

💙 Interested in becoming a Leadership Academy Guest Presenter? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us today to learn how you can make a lasting impact!

07/27/2026

Cherokee County Civitan Club does so much in our community to assist those in need. Thank you for supporting Extended Family all these years!

07/24/2026

We are so grateful for community leaders who invest in the lives of our youth! 💙

Recently, Judge Shaunathan Bell spoke with our Extended Family Leadership Academy students at the DeKalb Youth Services Center about ethics and why doing the right thing matters.

Using relatable examples, Judge Bell challenged students to think about honesty, fairness, respect, and making good choices. He reminded them that our values should guide every decision.

Thank you, Judge Bell, for sharing your time, wisdom, and heart with our students. Together, we’re helping young people build character, make positive choices, and create brighter futures. 🌟

*Pictured: Otis Washington, Daphne Rogers, and Judge Bell*

07/16/2026

So many exciting things beginning to happen!

Extended Family plans more than 40 school programs across Cherokee, Etowah, DeKalb and Calhoun counties during the 2026-27 school year.

07/09/2026

Thank you, WEIS Radio, for your continuous support!

Extended Family has received a $10,000 grant from Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center and the Atrium Health Floyd-Polk Foundation to support student programs in Cherokee County.