Patricia Baca, LMSW, Program Director, Foster Family Resources

Provide help for a child during a family crisis, in your community. Potential foster parents in our assigned areas in Brooklyn (Flatbush) and the Bronx (South Bronx) are invited to a meeting in their communities.

Here is information on all the steps involved in becoming a foster parent:

The Home Visit

A recruiter visits the home for approximately 20 minutes to determine if it meets New York State regulations. Applicants are told immediately if their homes are eligible. In addition, the recruiter picks up the completed application, household budget, and child abuse clearance forms.

Next, the applicants meet a Senior Social Worker to determine if the family understands the realities of foster care and is capable of providing resources and support to a foster child.

Becoming a Resource Parent: Meetings

These meetings provide a discussion of the role of the foster parent and an overview of the process of becoming one. Participants learn about the special needs of foster children and the realities of foster care work. Attendees receive an information packet including an application. They can make an appointment with a recruiter for a home visit at that time, or they may call JCCA later if they need more time to make a decision. Meetings are held at both our Bronx and Brooklyn locations.

MAPP Training

Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting is an in-depth, 30-hour training program in which potential foster families learn more about foster care, foster children, and the agency. They also learn to examine their strengths and needs as a family. Families are fingerprinted and submit all the required documentation at this time. The training includes several assessment points at which applicants or the agency may determine that the family should not continue with the process.

Certification and Beyond

Once MAPP training is completed, all documents have been submitted, and clearances have been received from the state, foster parents are certified and their home is open for the placement of foster children. Every year from the date of certification, the home has to be recertified. Foster parents are supported with ongoing training related to the everyday issues and struggles of caring for foster children. There is an Annual Foster Parent Appreciation Breakfast held to honor and celebrate our families for their commitment to help our city's children.

Treatment Family Foster Care

The Treatment Family Foster Care program is designed to serve children and youth who have moderate to severe behavioral and emotional problems  that can be supported within a family setting. Foster parents get specialized training and additional supports to successfully manage youth’s behaviors and help them to make gains.