Foster Care

Foster care is a secure, affectionate, temporary home for children (age birth to 21 years) who have experienced abuse or neglect while living with their family or guardian. The goal is to safely place the child with their biological family once again, though this is not always possible.

Children enter into foster care for a number of reasons:

their biological parents may have passed away
their biological parents may be unable or unwilling to provide support
they may have been given up for adoption at a young age
their family is abusive or negligent
their family may be undergoing treatment for substance addictions

In these and other situations, the state takes over responsibility for the child's welfare and places the child in the private home of a state certified caregiver or foster parent.

The human services department employs social workers who are responsible for monitoring the children placed in foster care. Until the child is legally adopted, reunited with their family, or transferred permanently under a legal guardian, all decisions involving the minor's welfare are made by the state's family court and child protection agency social workers.

There are many ways to help children who are in foster care.

Become a foster parent.
Donate to financially or materially support a foster child(ren).
Volunteer your time.
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With the help of dedicated foster parents, we provide a safe, structured, and nurturing environment for each child - where education, activity, and achievement are emphasized and destructive behavior patterns are interrupted.