Candace Tinagero, LCSW, Senior Vice President, Foster Home and Residential Services
Paul Torres, LCSW, Vice President, Foster Home Services
Keturah Pierre, LCSW, Assistant Division Director, Foster Home Services

Foster Home Services provides infants and children, many of whom have been abused or neglected, with safe and nurturing foster homes while their families work to resolve their difficulties and plan for permanency. JCCA seeks to build strong connections and better relationships among family members.

Working as a team, parents, children, foster parents and staff make decisions that address the emotional, social, educational, medical, and cultural needs of the children and their caregivers. When children cannot safely return to their original families, JCCA secures permanent families through adoption. Foster parents receive extensive training and support from JCCA staff.

Services include:

• · Closely-monitored kinship or foster homes
• · Collaborative permanency planning with families
• · Independent living skills training for adolescents
• · Medical care
• · Referrals in the community for benefits, substance abuse treatment and housing
• · Model Approach to Partnership and Parenting (MAPP) training for foster and adoptive families

Types of Foster Homes

Foster Boarding Homes: JCCA encourages partnerships between birth parents and foster parents so they can develop plans for a child's return home or an alternate permanency plan. Admission age: birth-17.

Kinship Foster Boarding Homes: Many children remain in the care of their extended families in kinship foster care. JCCA's support services assist relatives in maintaining children safely and securely. The family works to create a plan for the child's future. Admission age: birth-17.

Sibling Houses: Youngsters live in group settings staffed by foster parents, allowing siblings to remain together in a family atmosphere. Admission age: birth-17.

Therapeutic Foster Boarding Homes: Children and adolescents with severe emotional problems are placed in homes with specially trained foster parents. Enhanced multi-disciplinary teams work with the children and families. Admission age: 5-17.

Agency-Operated Boarding Homes: Youngsters live in small group homes staffed by foster parents while they learn the skills to live independently.