Many families experience difficulty in raising and caring
for their children. Some families, however, have such
trouble that they cannot raise their children in a safe
and healthy manner. An increasing number of children need
to be placed in the homes of caring, nurturing families
when their own families cannot take care of them. How
can you help? By
becoming
a foster parent.
Family
Care for Children & Youth provides
care to children in need by placing them with families
who can help them both physically and emotionally. If
you become a foster family, an FCCY case manager will
work with your family and the child you care for as a
team, helping both of you experience a healthy, productive
relationship. Your case manager will also provide support
for your new foster family and coordinate the special
training you will need to become an ideal foster parent.
Who
are these children?
The children which become part of foster families may
be from a biological/legal family suffering from physical
or sexual abuse, drug addiction, abandonment, or other
neglect or trauma. Children may be of all ages; their
common need is for a loving, nurturing family life.
What
are the goals of foster care?
Foster care is designed to be temporary; the goal for
most children is to successfully return to their biological/legal
family. Visits between a child and his/her biological/legal
family may occur while a child is part of your foster
family. The important thing is that all involved parties
work together to support the child.
In
some cases, a child is unable to return to his/her biological/legal
family and other permanent placement arrangements must
be made. These arrangements may include subsidized permanent
legal custodianship, adoption, or other planned permanent
living arrangement or placement with a relative.
Would
I make a good
foster parent?
Foster families are made up of people who are mature,
understanding, and able to exercise good judgment. Foster
parents enjoy children and like being parents; foster
parents are good communicators and work well with others.
Foster families are flexible enough to meet the unique
needs of the children entrusted to them; foster families
feel good about helping children by opening their homes
and lives to them. Foster parents must be at least
21 years of age.
What
type of reimbursement does
FCCY provide
foster families?
If you provide foster care through FCCY, you can count
on the following:
