Family Foster Care
What is Family Foster Care & how does it differ from the Treatment, Special Medical & Kinship programs?
Family Foster Care is out of home placement required for children who are deemed abused/neglected or abandoned and have been removed from their biological parents or other persons legally responsible for the child and require protective placement. Children in Family Foster Care need loving, caring, dedicated foster parents to provide temporary care for them until they can safely return to their families of origin. Children in Family Foster Care have experienced some level of trauma and require foster parents who have compassion and patience to help them deal with the myriad of feelings and manage the variety of behaviors that typically encompass foster care placement.
Who is it for & why is it needed?
Family Foster Care is needed for any child deemed abused or neglected and who is remanded into the care and custody of the Commissioner of Social Services of New York City by the Family Court and requires out-of-home family based care.
Who typically makes a good foster parent for a child in Family Foster Care?
Family Foster Care (FFC) seeks caretakers who exhibit patience and commitment to supporting the children and families we work with. FFC foster parents will need to demonstrate time and energy to supporting these loving children on a daily basis. FFC foster parents are willing to open their hearts and homes to these children, offering them a loving and safe environment after experiencing the trauma of removal from their home. FFC foster parents use the resources and support provided to them to support the child in healing, and to support the family in reunifying when possible, and maintaining open communication about concerns so crises can be addressed and be avoided preemptively. While the agency provides direct supports and links the foster parent and child with community resources, nothing can take the place of a loving home provided by our dedicated foster parents.
How does Family Foster Care fit into the CGS & the NYC ecosystem of care?
Children who require Family Foster Care are children who have experienced trauma and require out of home placement, but are simply children who need love and support from a foster parent until they can be safely returned to their parent’s care. CGS works to support these children and their biological families so that they can eventually reunite with one another. As an agency that strives to provide help, create hope and preserve dignity, CGS provides Family Foster Care as a component of our services on behalf of the children and families we serve.
How many children are currently in CGS Family Foster Care?
Currently there are 300+ children in Family Foster Care.
Can a child in Family Foster Care be adopted?
As with any other child coming into the foster care system, children in Family Foster Care may become available for adoption if their biological parents or persons legally responsible for the child are unable or unwilling to provide permanency for the child in care. Under those circumstances, a permanency plan is developed in collaboration with the foster care agency and Family Court System to determine the most appropriate legal permanency option for the child. In some instances, adoption by the foster parent is determined to be the most appropriate plan for the child.
What kind of training and support do foster parents receive for a child in Family Foster Care?
Family Foster Care foster parents are provided an initial 30 hour pre-certification training called Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting Group Preparation and Selection Process (MAPP GPS) which provides new foster parents with training on the trauma children face when removed from their families and managing and supporting children placed in the foster care system. FFC foster parents also receive a variety of other training opportunities offered by the CGS training department to support them in the every day parenting of children who have experienced complex trauma. Additionally children in CGS receive medical and mental health advocacy and support, as well as referrals to our care management program.
Where do the children in need of Family Foster Care come from ?
Children in need of Family Foster Care are referred to Catholic Guardian Services by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Visit the ACS website here
